X" 


^^wi.5?:%^/«^-:. 


// 


C.  riiZ-^-^     '^ 


4.5 


4^4^ 


?^7 


BY 


CHARLOTTE    ELIZABETH, 


NEW  YORK: 
PUBLISHED    BY    M.    W.    DODD, 

BRICK     CHURCH     CHATEL, 
Opposite  the  City  Hall. 


1843. 


•  »."••     • 


4 

track  that  she  had  just  seen  her  uncle  point  out  on 
a  chart  with  the  features  referred  to  by  Ahck,  and 
very  attractive  they  would  have  been  in  her  eyes  had 
not  all  other  considerations  been  lost  in  the  para- 
mount one  which  evidently  was  omitted  in  her  kins- 
man's catalogue  of  anticipated  dehghts.  Syria — 
Palestine — Mount  Zion — ^these  were  ever  prominent 
to  the  view  of  that  Hebrew  maiden.  Gladly  would 
she  have  trod  the  whole  route,  a  fettered  and  blind- 
folded captiVCj  to  have  found  herself  at  the  end  of  it 
within  sight  of  Jerusalem,  with  permission  to  weep 
over  its  departed  glories.  Her  thought  by  day,  her 
dream  by  night,  was  of  the  dispersion,  the  degrada- 
tion of  her  people ;  and  while  the  occasional  out- 
bursts of  higher  patriotism  which  she  could  not  con- 
trol were  good-humouredly  smiled  at,  and  herself 
regarded  as  a  pretty  enthusiast  by  the  members  of 
her  uncle's  household,  she  was  altogether  isolated 
in  the  midst  of  them,  by  the  consciousness  that  this, 
the  deepest  feeling  of  her  heart,  was  totally  unshared. 
Reading,  meditation,  and  a  strict  attention  to  all  the 
prescribed  forms  of  her  religion  were  therefore  the 
elements  on  which  her  zeal  was  chiefly  fed:  and 
Esther  Cohen,  though  amiable  in  a  high  degree,  and 
universally  beloved  by  all  around  her,  would  not 
have  shrunk  from,  but  rather  have  gloried  in,  the  dis- 
tinction of  being  a  most  rigid  and  bigoted  Jewess. 

Her  uncle,  the  younger  brother  of  her  deceased 
father,  was,  on  the  contrary,  a  complete  liberal  in 
rehgion.  He  came  of  high  lineage  among  the  de- 
scendants of  Abraham,  and  certainly  prided  himself 
in   the   unmixed   character   of  his   pedigree,   which 


JUBAH  S    LION.  5 

owned  no  Gentile  intermarriage  throughout  its  long 
and  wide  ramifications ;  but  he  was,  to  all  intents 
and  purposes,  a  man  of  the  world,  prosperous  in  a 
lucrative  and  honourable  branch  of  traffic,  devoted 
to  the  pursuit  of  such  advantages  as  he  deemed  most 
desirable  for  his  family,  and  above  all  things  solicit- 
ous to  see  his  people  relieved  from  the  pressure  of 
civil  disabilities,  and  exalted  to  a  place  in, the  legis- 
lature. Confident  that  this  would  soon  be  the  result 
of  the  efforts  in  progress,  he  had  brought  up  his  son 
with  a  special  view  to  rendering  him  eligible  for  such 
distinctions ;  and  to  this  end  he  had  liberalized  to  an 
extent  by  no  means  approved  among  his  stricter 
brethren  ;  who  considered  that  their  young  kinsman 
might  occupy  his  expected  station  among  Gentile 
senators  and  officials  without  being  unmindful  of 
his  own  peculiar  privileges  as  a  Hebrew  of  the 
Hebrews. 

Nathan  Alexander  Cohen,  however,  gave  himself 
very  little  concern  with  regard  either  to  the  prog- 
nostics of  his  father  or  the  scruples  of  their  friends. 
Full  of  animal  life,  buoyant  in  spirits,  frank,  sociable, 
and  impetuous,  he  found  himself  possessed  of  all 
the  advantages  that  this  world  can  bestow  upon  its 
votaries,  and  sported  like  a  young  colt  in  the  wide 
pleasant  field  assigned  for  his  pasturage  and  play. 
Proud  he  was  to  excess ;  but  his  pride  was  quite 
distinct  from  that  of  Esther  or  his  father.  Jealousy 
of  his  personal  honour  and  privileges  formed  its  chief 
point ;  to  which  he  added  a  nationality  quite  foreign 
to  the  general  character  of  his  people ;  for  he  deemed 
it  his  chief  glory  to  be  an  Englishman.     Vain  were 

1* 


his  cousin's  indignant  remonstrances,  and  the  occa- 
sional reprimands  of  elder  friends  ;  the  boy  had  been 
brought  up  in  a  large  school,  where  all  religious 
differences  were  smoothed  down  after  the  most  ap- 
proved fashion  of  modern  indifferentism ;  and  little 
as  his  father  was  suspected  of  any  fanatical  attach- 
ment to  the  Mosaic  law,  the  son  gave  promise  of 
holding  it  yet  more  loosely.  Extensively  as  virtual 
infidelity  is  eating  into  the  core  of  professing  Chris- 
tianity among  us,  it  pervades  no  less  deeply  the  mass 
of  the  Jewish  people  at  this  day. 

Among  other  things,  the  name  of  Nathan  had  been 
wholly  dropped  by  the  younger  Cohen,  and  that  of 
Alexander,  the  surname  of  a  Hebrew  connexion 
which  had  been  given  him,  was  shortened  into  Alick, 
and  thus  assisted  to  Gentihze  him.  But  in  one  re- 
spect he  was  found  inveterately  Israelitish,  for  the 
contour  of  his  face,  its  olive  tint,  brightened  into 
richness  by  the  glow  of  health  and  animation,  the  jet 
black  of  his  sparkhng  eyes  and  hair,  all  proclaimed 
what  his  manners,  his  education,  his  habits  declined 
to  confirm,  that  Alick  Cohen  was  decidedly  a  Jew. 

Idle,  volatile,  and  self-willed,  he  had  loitered  in 
his  studies:  and  now,  at  eighteen,  having  just  been 
emancipated  from  the  hands  of  a  private  tutor,  en- 
gaged to  finish  what  the  school  had  failed  in,  it  rather 
puzzled  his  father  what  step  to  take  next.  A  German 
university  was  decided  on;  but  circumstances,  where- 
in pleasure  and  profit  were  equally  concerned,  led 
Mr.  Cohen  to  plan  a  tour  in  the  East,  where  a  wide 
field  for  commercial  speculation  had  opened  to  him. 
Alick  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  permission  to 


accompany  him ;  and  this  gave  rise  to  the  expression 
of  envy  from  Esther,  who  regarded  as  most  desirable 
that  part  of  her  cousin's  anticipated  gratifications 
which  he  himself  scarcely  even  numbered  among  them. 

The  evening  before  their  departure  Alick  went  to 
pass  an  hour  with  a  neighbouring  family,  where  he 
found  two  or  three  other  guests  assembled :  his  pro- 
posed route  being  alluded  to,  a  young  lady  whose  en- 
thusiasm appeared  greatly  roused  by  the  subject, 
asked  him  if  he  expected  to  visit  Jerusalem  and  the 
surrounding  spots !  and  on  his  replying  in  the  affir- 
mative, entreated  him  to  bring  her  some  relic  from 
those  hallowed  places ;  on  which  another  remarked, 
'  You  had  better  ask  for  a  sprig  from  one  of  the  an- 
cient cedars  of  Lebanon  ;'  And  Alick,  ever  ready  to 
oblige,  promised  to  bring  home  a  choice  collection  of 
those  venerable  trees.  When  he  related  this  to  Esther 
at  home,  to  his  surprise,  she  burst  into  tears,  ex- 
claiming, *  Do  not,  Alick,  rob  our  glorious  mountain 
of  its  few  surviving  honours,  to  indulge  the  childish 
fancy  of  a  vain  Gentile  !' 

'  You  are  an  odd  girl,  Esther ;  what  can  be  the 
harm  of  taking  a  leaf  or  two  out  of  a  cluster  of  crazy 
old  trees?' 

'  Well,  I  shall  not  dispute  the  matter  with  you. 
Nevertheless,  Alick,  I  shall  pray  to  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham that  before  you  reach  that  spot  you  may  have 
learned  to  shrink  from  the  sacrilege  you  now  speak  of 
so  lightly.' 

But  there  was  another  in  that  house  besides  Esther, 
supplicating  the  God  of  Abraham  on  the  youth's 
behalf,  and  with  a  better  knowledge  both  of  whom 


8  judah's  lion. 

she  addressed  and  of  what  she  asked.  This  was  an 
old  Christian  servant,  truly  a  Christian,  who  for  her 
fidelity  had  been  long  installed  in  a  sort  of  demi- 
official  character,  an  office  created  for  her  in  Mr. 
Cohen's  household,  as  overlooker  of  the  linen  de- 
partment, and  superintendent  of  all  packing,  un- 
packing, and  similar  operations,  in  which  she  con- 
ceived herself  profoundly  skilled.  She  was  a  simple 
creature,  without  a  particle  of  this  world's  learning 
or  wisdom,  held  in  some  disdain  by  the  modern  do- 
mestics for  the  unsophisticated  homeliness  of  her 
ways  and  apparel,  but  by  her  harmlessness,  good 
humour  and  obliging  disposition,  overcoming  all  pre- 
judice. She  could  not  even  read  ;  for  having  neg- 
lected to  acquire  the  accomplishment  in  her  youth, 
nothing  could  persuade  Susan  it  was  attainable  in 
declining  years,  though  Alick  had  frequently  offered 
to  stake  his  best  play-things  on  his  success  in 
teaching,  if  Susan  would  become  his  pupil.  ^  No, 
no,  master  Alick,'  she  would  reply,  '  I'm  too  old  to 
learn  ;  and  what  need  of  it  while  you  are  so  good 
as  to  read  me  a  scrap  of  news  out  of  the  paper,  and 
Miss  Esther  a  fine  tale  out  of  a  story-book  7  It  ill 
becomes  the  likes  of  me  to  set  up  for  a  scholar  in  my 
old  age.' 

Latterly,  however,  a  great  change  had  passed  on 
Susan's  tastes  and  feelings.  The  gospel  was  intro- 
duced into  the  parish  pulpit  by  a  new  minister ;  she 
heard,  believed,  and  in  the  midst  of  her  simplicity 
and  ignorance,  became  wise  unto  salvation.  News- 
papers and  story-books  lost  their  charm:  she  pre- 
ferred to  feast  her  mind  on  what  she  could  remember 


of  the  last  sabbath's  scripture  and  sermons  ;  but  it 
was  only  within  a  week  or  two  that  her  warm  interest 
had  been  excited  on  behalf  of  the  family  she  loved  so 
well  and  served  so  truly. 

A  sermon  had  been  preached  for  the  Jews'  Society, 
and  Susan,  with  awe-struck  wonder,  heard  for  the 
first  time  of  the  privileges,  the  sins,  the  chastisements, 
the  hopes  of  Israel.  Her  whole  soul  became  wrapt 
up  in  the  one  anxious  desire  to  see  her  master's 
household  converted  to  Christ ;  and  Alick,  as  he  had 
ever  been  her  chief  favourite,  now  stood  foremost  in 
her  hopes  and  prayers.  The  sudden  tidings  of  his 
intended  voyage,  which  to  her  simple  apprehension 
was  a  stupendous  undertaking,  beset  with  perils  in- 
numerable, sent  her  in  dismay  to  the  minister,  who 
calmed  her  fears  and  soothed  her  anxiety  by  putting 
up  a  very  fervent  supplication  for  the  young  Jew. 

When  Alick  came  to  her  for  the  double  purpose  of 
ascertaining  the  state  of  his  packages,  and  bidding  a 
kind  farewell,  he  was  touched  by  the  trembling  ear- 
nestness of  her  injunctions  to  avoid  all  danger,  and 
to  keep  away  from  all  bad  companions.  '  Oh,  never 
fear,  Suke,'  replied  he,  ^  I  know  better  than  to  risk 
my  precious  neck  without  cause  ;  and  as  for  bad  com- 
pany, I  shall  not  disgrace  my  family  by  mixing  with 
people  beneath  me.' 

Fain  would  she  have  pointed  to  a  higher  and  purer 
motive,  but  she  had  never  yet  ventured  upon  any  dis- 
course of  the  kind  with  her  master's  family  ;  and  be- 
fore she  could  muster  resolution  he  Was  called  away. 
*  Good  bye,  Susan  ;  take  care  of  your  old  bones,  that 
I  may  find  them  safe  and  snug  in  their  comfortable 


10  judah's  lion. 

case  when  I  return.'  He  held  out  his  hand;  the 
faithful  creature  clasped  it  between  her's,  and  her 
feelings  broke  forth  in  a  scriptural  phrase,  quoted  in 
the  minister's  prayer  for  him,  and  which  she  had 
often  since  repeated  in  her  own,  "  The  God  of  his 
father  Abraham,  the  Angel  that  delivered  Jacob  from 
all  evil,  bless  the  lad !"  AHck  looked  at  her  with 
some  surprize  ;  but  he  only  said,  '  Thank  ye,  Susan  ; 
I  hope  he  will,'  and  bounded  away. 

The  person  who  had  called  him  was  his  cousin 
Esther.  Discouraged  in  her  exclusive  feelings  by 
those  around  her,  and  particularly  shy  of  provoking 
Ahck's  bantering  drollery,  she  had  repressed  many  a 
rising  exhortation  where  she  deemed  it  greatly 
needed ;  but  now  that  he  was  on  the  very  eve  of 
departing  on  such  a  pilgrimage,  she  resolved  to  dis- 
charge her  conscience,  and  to  set  before  him  his  duty. 
Accordingly  she  began  by  inquiring  if  he  could 
really  proceed  on  a  journey  to  Jerusalem  with  no 
greater  emotion  than  if  he  were  going  to  Paris  or  to 
Berlin  7 

'Why,  no;  I  don't  say  that,  Esther.  Without 
bringing  up  useless  distinctions  in  the  way  you  do, 
one  must  feel  something  in  going  for  the  first  time  to 
visit  what  is  certainly  the  land  of  his  fathers,  though 
it  is  not  his  own.' 

'Not  his  own,  Alick  Cohen?  Who  shall  dare  to 
say  of  that  land  that  it  is  not  at  this  moment  the  pro- 
perty of  every  Hebrew  on  the  face  of  the  earth?' 

'  A  very  unprofitable  property,  coz.  For  any  good 
it  yields  me,  or  any  business  I  have  with  it,  I  might 


11 

just  as  well  point  to  Sir  John's  park  yonder,  and  call 
it  mine.' 

^  If  Coleby  Park  had  belonged  to  your  ancestors 
from  time  immemorial,  and  was  entailed  on  you,  the 
sole  heir,  and  had  been  forcibly  taken  possession  of 
by  a  gang  of  robbers,  who  held  it  by  mere  strength  of 
arm,  defying  both  law  and  justice,  would  you  not 
still  call  it  yours  V 

'  Ay,  and  soon  get  it  out  of  their  rascally  clutches, 
I'll  warrant  you.  But  your  simile  does  not  hold 
good  ;  for  the  property  you  speak  of,  yonder  in  the 
East,  has  certainly  been  made  over  by  the  Great  Pro- 
prietor above  to  other  tenants.' 

^  Alas,  alas  1'  said  Esther,  '  it  is  too  true.  Our  sins 
have  forfeited  the  possession,  and  we  shall  never, 
never  regain  it  while  remaining  thus  careless,  impe- 
nitent, hardened  under  the  Divine  rebuke.'  Then 
suddenly  fixing  on  him  her  eyes,  which  she  had  be- 
fore shaded  with  her  clasped  hands,  she  sternly  added, 
'  It  is  such  as  you  who  stand  between  the  tribes  and 
their  inheritance  !  The  very  temple  of  Mount  Zion, 
in  all  the  magnificence  of  its  glory,  would  not  out- 
weigh with  you  the  glitter  and  the  pride  of  a  little 
wealth,  display,  and  power  in  the  midst  of  an  infidel 
nation.' 

Alick  was  roused ;  he  darted  back  a  look  equally 
proud  and  angry  as  her  own,  but  his  eye  presently 
fell  beneath  the  lofty  scorn  of  her's  ;  and  with  a  short 
laugh  he  carelessly  remarked,  '  One  must  not  be  too 
severe  with  a  pretty  girl  when  she  gets  into  "  Ercles' 
vein,"  by  way  of  variety.' 


12  judah's  lion. 

^  No,  cousin  Alick,  I  do  not  vary,  and  you  know  it. 
My  feeling,  however  suppressed  out  of  deference  to 
those  above  ine,  is  always  the  same.  A  daughter  of 
Jerusalem  by  right,  I  never  will  forego  the  lofty  pri- 
vileges of  that  character,  though  the  loftiest  of  them 
now  be  that  of  weeping  over  the  ruiiis  of  Jerusalem, 
the  desolation,  the  degradation  of  her  degenerate  sons.* 
She  turned  away  in  tears:  then  again  facing  him  said, 
with  greater  animation,  ^  You  will  have  a  new  charac- 
ter to  sustain ;  hitherto  you  have  lived  in  a  charmed 
circle,  where  a  golden  talisman  secures  you  from  all 
that  you  must  shortly  expect  to  encounter.  Unless 
with  the  honourable  name  of  Nathan  you  mean  to 
drop  and  wholly  to  deny  your  blood  and  hneage,  you 
will  yet  find  yourself  reviled,  taunted,  thrust  out, 
trampled  upon,  in  the  character  of  a  despised  Jew.' 

Colouring  with  anger,  the  youth  haughtily  replied, 
'  Jew  or  Gentile,  no  living  man  shall  dare  to  despise 
me.' 

Esther  shook  her  head  compassionately,  '  Ah,  so 
you  think,  but  time  will  undeceive  you.  Apostacy 
alone  can  save  you  from  your  share  of  the  national 
curse — the  scorn  of  the  Gentile ;  and  I  don't  think, 
Alick,  I  don't  think,'  she  deliberately  repeated,  '  that 
you  are  yet  prepared  to  stamp  that  open  brow  with 
the  foul  brand  of  a  cowardly  apostate.' 

The  youth  was  excessively  provoked  ;  but  affecting 
a  louder  laugh  than  before,  he  apologised  for  not  hav- 
ing time  to  answer  her  pleasantry,  and  left  her  with 
apparent  good  humour.  Esther  almost  regretted  hav- 
ing pursued  so  rough  a  course,  when  a  little  manage- 


judah's  lion.  13 

ment  might  have  led  to  better  results;  but  it  was 
past,  and  no  opportunity  presented  itself  of  repairing 
the  mischief  A  brief  good-bye  was  all  she  could  in- 
terchange with  Alick,  before  he  started  with  his  father 
for  the  port  whence  they  were  to  sail,  in  a  ship  of  the 
line,  for  the  Mediterranean. 

2 


CHAPTER  II. 

Adverse  winds  detained  the  ship  for  some  days  in 
the  Channel ;  after  which  they  coasted  leisurely  west- 
ward, the  captain  having  to  communicate  with  the 
Admiral  at  Cove.  Every  thing  in  the  shape  of  delay 
was  agreeable  to  Alick,  who  found  in  the  sea  an  ele- 
ment so  delightful,  and  in  the  sprightly  young  middies 
associates  so  congenial  to  him,  than  an  order  to  cir- 
cumnavigate the  globe  in  that  company  would  have 
been  welcome.  Mr.  Cohen,  who  suffered  greatly 
from  sickness,  had  not  even  made  his  appearance  at 
the  captain's  table  ;  but  Alick,  a  general  favourite, 
had  already  experienced  the  hospitality  of  all  the 
messes  ;  among  which  he  certainly  preferred  the  gun- 
room, where,  at  a  slip  of  table  thirty  feet  long,  as- 
sembled the  gallant  array  of  midshipmen,  varying  in 
years  from  fourteen  to  more  than  twice  that  age,  a 
schoolmaster,  two  assistant  surgeons,  and  very  fre- 
quently a  warrant-officer  as  guest.  The  early  dinner- 
hour  of  noon  allowed  Alick  to  accept  the  almost  daily 
invitations  as  to  a  lunch,  though  the  abundance  of 
choice  viands  served  up  usually  tempted  him  to  make 
it  a  full  meal ;  and  his  keen  perception  of  character 
ensured  him  endless  amusement  among  such  society. 

Alick  Cohen  had  never  loved  study,  so  far  as  books 
were  concerned ;  but  he  was  naturally  of  an  inquiring 


15 

turn,  and  impressed  not  only  vividly  but  deeply  v^dth 
whatever  was  presented  to  him  through  the  medium 
of  common  occurrence  or  conversation.  Far  from 
being  deficient  either  in  sense  or  talent,  his  mind  had 
remained  comparatively  inert,  more  for  lack  of  any 
suitable  stimulant  to  force  it  into  action  than  from  in- 
dolence. At  home  he  had  known  no  wish  that  could 
not  be  gratified  by  touching  a  bell-rope  ;  and  at  school 
a  well-filled  purse  wrought  its  wonted  effects.  The 
society  wherein  he  had  moved  was  of  that  polish 
which  wears  away,  from  the  surface  at  least,  all  irre- 
gularities of  character  ;  and  thus  he  had  been  becalm- 
ed on  the  smooth  waters  of  a  rich  citizen's  life,  long 
enough  to  render  the  present  contrast  enchanting. 

Some  of  his  young  friends  in  the  gun-room  were 
highly  bred ;  a  title,  more  than  one  Honourable,  and 
several  of  his  own  class,  ranked  among  them;  but 
though  some  affected  the  fine  gentleman,  and  strove 
against  the  infection  of  their  comrades'  blunt  hilarity, 
they  could  not  succeed  in  chilling  the  genial  atmos- 
phere around  them;  more  particularly  as  such  at- 
tempts were  pointedly  put  down  by  the  captain  and 
first  lieutenant,  two  disciplinarians  of  the  old  school, 
and  still  more  effectually  checked  by  an  individual  of 
subordinate  rank ;  but  who,  perhaps,  possessed  more 
real  influence  among  the  middies  than  any  other  man 
on  board. 

This  was  the  gunner,  a  fine  old  seaman,  who  had 
risen  by  sterling  merit  to  that  important  post,  and 
whose  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession,  peculiar 
aptitude  for  communicating  it,  and  unbounded  kind- 
ness in  afibrding  valuable  information,  had  rendered 


16 

him  an  oracle  among  the  inexperienced  officers.  He 
was  rough  and  unceremonious,  but  never  harsh  or 
rude.  His  broad,  honest  face  beamed  with  intelli- 
gence, benevolence,  and  manly  decision,  while  his 
quick  eye  seemed  formed  at  once  to  detect  and  to  re- 
prove anything  reprehensible.  Alick  took  great  note 
of  him,  seldom  losing  a  remark  that  he  uttered;  for 
in  his  heart  he  had  already  resolved  by  some  means 
to  enter  the  service ;  and  the  information  that  any  at- 
tentive listener  might  derive  from  Gordon's  general 
discourse  on  nautical  subjects  was  likely  to  prove  of 
material  use.  The  grand  feature,  however,  in  the 
gunner's  character  he  did  not  comprehend,  for  Gordon 
w^as  spiritually-minded;  a  true,  firm,  and  consistent 
believer. 

The  senior  midshipman,  a  disappointed  and  discon- 
tented man,  openly  broached  infidel  principles,  in 
which  he  was  covertly  supported  by  one  of  the  assist- 
ant surgeons,  who  prudently  refrained  from  commit- 
ting himself  directly  on  that  point.  The  school-mas- 
ter, well  read  in  Paley's  Evidences,  and  armed  with 
such  Christianity  as  man  may  learn  from  man,  con- 
stantly met  and  repelled  all  serious  assaults  on  reveal- 
ed religion ;  but  allowed  the  sneer,  the  laugh,  the 
banter,  to  pass  unheeded.  Gordon,  whose  constant 
care  it  was  to  uphold  the  relative  authority  of  each 
officer  in  the  ship,  refrained  from  interposing  when 
the  schoolmaster  came  forward ;  but  many  a  rebuke 
did  he  administer  on  occasions  when,  but  for  him,  the 
ground  would  have  been  undefended.  Sharpe,  the 
infidel,  was  much  disliked  by  his  comrades,  who  re- 
lished seeing  him  wincing  under  Gordon's  lash  ;  and 


17 

what  between  well-merited  love,  and  salutary  dread, 
of  the  old  gunner,  the  latter  enjoyed  an  exemption 
from  those  petty  persecutions  which  too  often  are  the 
lot  of  a  Christian  in  his  situation. 

Alick's  Hebrew  origin  had  not  been  surmised.  In 
the  little  billets  occasionally  handed  to  him  he  was 
usually  addressed  as  '  Coane,'  and  he  himself  be- 
stowed no  thought  on  the  matter.  It  happened  as 
they  were  beating  off  the  Cove  of  Cork  that  he 
strolled  into  the  gun-room  with  one  of  his  young 
friends,  just  as  the  debate  was  running  high  between 
Mr.  Sharpe  and  the  schoolmaster.  The  former,  it 
seemed,  had  denounced  the  whole  Bible  as  a  tissue 
of  falsehood  and  folly ;  while  the  latter  was,  with 
more  earnestness  than  usual,  upholding  its  divine 
authority.  A  group  of  middies  surrounded  the  com- 
batants, of  whom  one  was  drawing  a  caricature  sketch, 
while  Gordon  was  delighting  a  mere  child,  just  en- 
tered as  a  midshipman,  by  superintending  the  carving 
of  a  ship's  hull  with  his  penknife.  Alick  took  his  sta- 
tion in  the  midst  of  the  listeners. 

^  All  that  you  have  said  is  vastly  fine,  Mr.  Cowper,' 
said  Sharpe,  '  but  it  amounts  to  just  this  ;  certain  pre- 
dictions appear  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  their  ful- 
filment is  recorded  in  the  New ;  so  you  make  the 
two  parcels  of  the  Bible  reciprocally  prove  each  other  ; 
whereas  I  take  leave  to  regard  them  both  as  parts  of 
one  great  forgery,  framed  so  to  support  one  another's 
pretences.' 

'  Setting  the  New  Testament  aside  altogether,'  re- 
plied the  other,  '  I  refer  you  to  the  fulfilment  of  pro- 
phecy in  the  nations  around  us. 

2* 


18  judah's  lion. 

*  Of  which  a  great  deal  took  place  before  the  pro- 
phecies were  written,'  said  Sharpe  contemptuously, 
'  and  the  rest  would  have  come  to  pass  in  the  natural 
course  of  events,  even  had  they  not  been  so  shrewdly 
guessed  at,  and,  as  you  called  it,  foretold.' 

*  Impossible !'  said  Cowper,  '  no  human  sagacity 
could  have  foreseen  the  occurrences  that  have  fallen 
out,  exactly  as  foreshewn  in  the  pages  of  inspiration. 
But  leaving  all  others,  I  will  take  up  one  point  alone  ; 
what  think  you,  sir,  of  that  universal  problem,  the 
outcast,  miserable,  degraded  Jews  V 

*  Why,  I  think  them  a  pack  of  very  great  vaga- 
bonds,' answered  Mr.  Sharpe. 

^  Undoubtedly  they  are ;  the  very  offscourings  of 
the  world,  a  by- word,  a  hissing,  a  scorn,  and  a  re- 
proach ;  but  was  not  this  foretold  V 

'  Yes,  and  in  the  same  way  I  could  sit  down  and 
write  a  prophecy  that  Poland  should  be  dismembered 
by  the  Russians.' 

^  Well,  sir,  but  supposing  the  Bible  to  be  ever  so 
modern  a  book  as  you  fancy  it,  only  a  few  centuries 
old,  still  I  maintain  that  the  lapse  of  those  few  centu- 
ries was  sufficient,  nay  certain,  in  the  common  course 
of  events,  to  have  obliterated  all  natural  trace  of  such 
an  outcast  race,  amalgamating  them  with  the  various 
people  of  the  earth,  or  exterminating  them  altogether 
by  the  many  and  severe  persecutions  that  they  have 
undergone.  Instead  of  which,  you  find  no  country 
under  heaven  without  the  Jew,  bearing  the  brand  of 
his  crime,  the  curse  of  God,  and  the  universal  con- 
tempt of  his  fellow- creatures.' 

*  Look   at   Sharpe,  how  he  is  posed  and  caught, 


judah's  lion.  19 

whispered  a  middy  to  another  who  was  leaning  on 
Ahck's  shoulder. 

^  Ay,'  responded  the  other,  *  fairly  caught  in  the  bag 
of  an  old-clothes' -man,  and  Jewed  out  of  his  prime  ar- 
gument.' This  excited  a  laugh  among  those  who 
heard  it,  and  a  variety  of  witticisms  were  bandied 
about,  all  deriving  their  point  from  some  malicious  or 
contemptuous  allusion  to  the  Jew. 

Sharpe  replied,  but  Alick  heeded  not  his  words  :  a 
sensation  of  wrath  and  shame,  such  as  he  had  never 
before  experienced,  thrilled  through  him.  The  latter, 
however,  predominated  for  the  moment  ;  he  felt 
abashed,  crushed  beneath  a  weight  of  odium  the  more 
cruelly  bitter  because  it  was  wholly  free  from  any  per- 
sonal allusion..  All  the  epithets  of  scorn  bestowed  on 
his  people,  and  which  seemed  to  be  generally  ad- 
mitted by  those  who  heard  them  as  words  of  course, 
belonging  to  himself  as  one  of  that  despised  nation ; 
and  he  felt  that,  as  a  Jew,  he  must  rank  in  the  esti- 
mations of  companions  who  now  considered  him  fully 
their  equal,  as  inferior  to  the  least — ay,  probably,  to 
the  sailors  before  the  mast.  The  feeling  that  over- 
whelmed the  young  Israehte  was  that  ''  sorrow  of 
heart"  peculiar  to  those  on  whom  it  falls  as  a  stroke 
from  above.  He  smothered  it  in  his  own  bosom,  and 
gladly  followed  one  of  the  young  men  who,  tired  of 
listening  to  a  subject  that  did  not  interest  him,  went 
on  deck. 

When  Alick  withdrew  to  his  berth  for  the  night, 
and  found  himself  alone,  he  strove  to  avoid  all  un- 
pleasant recollections  ;  or  rather  to  banish  their  recur- 
rence after  being  pretty  well  stifled  in  the  mirth  of  an 


20 

evening  party.  Despite  all  efforts,  his  thoughts  fell 
into  that  train,  and  a  new  sentiment  sprang  up  in  liis 
mind,  from  which  it  had  hitherto  been  wholly  free — 
dislike  to  Christians.  ^  It  was  to  prove  the  truth  of 
his  own  rehgion  that  he  dared  to  speak  so  insultingly 
of  us,'  thought  Alick,  as  he  recalled  the  purport  of 
Mr.  Cowper's  argument ;  ^  and  though  those  officers 
care  little  enough  about  it  in  general  things,  yet  being 
Christians,  they  all  joined  in  joking  and  jeering  at  the 
Jews.  Oh,  how  mad  Esther  would  have  been!'  and 
he  could  not  forbear  smiling,  as  the  remembrance  of 
their  last  discussion  mingled  with  the  picture  that  his 
fancy  drew  of  her  presence  in  the  gun-room.  Sleep 
soon  terminated  his  cogitations,  and  at  early  morning 
the  bustle  of  casting  anchor  in  the  fine  harbour  of  Cork 
obliterated  every  unpleasant  recollection. 

But  Alick  was  not  to  remain  long  in  this  untroubled 
state :  the  captain  had  manned  his  gig,  and  gone  off 
to  the  flag-ship,  and  the  usual  laxity  of  discipline 
connived  at  in  port  gave  admission  to  many  strangers. 
One  of  the  miiddies,  a  mischievous  lad  of  sixteen, 
who  had  been  peering  into  the  numerous  boats  that 
surrounded  the  vessel,  and  descried  in  one  of  them 
an  object  likely  to  afford  him  some  sport,  approached 
the  schoolmaster,  then  leaning  on  a  gun-carriage, 
explaining  some  local  phenomena  to  a  party  of 
listeners,  among  whom  was  Alick,  and  said,  '  Here, 
Sir,  I  have  brought  you  a  choice  addition  to  your 
stock  of  evidences :  you  had  better  keep  him  to  pro- 
duce on  your  next  discussion  with  Sharpe  :'  and  he 
pushed  forward  a  most  squalid  little  object,  of  un- 
questionably   Jewish    aspect,   with    a    shaggy   grey 


21 

beardj  ragged  clothing,  and  a  net  of  oranges  in  each 
hand.  A  shout  of  laughter  welcomed  the  visitor, 
who  seemed  perfectly  at  his  ease ;  and  one  said 
'  Well,  my  little  Moshesh,  vat  ish  your  bishnesh  here  V 

Sharpe,  just  then  passing,  paused,  joined  in  the 
laugh,  and  asked  with  a  sneer,  '  Which  of  your  pro- 
phets prophesied  of  him,  Mr.  Cowper  V 

The  Jew's  brow  contracted :  he  evidently  felt  the 
insult,  but  instead  of  noticing  it,  held  up  his  nets, 
proclaiming  the  cheapness  of  his  fruits. 

^  Confess  you  stole  them,  Moshesh,'  said  one. 

'  I  did  not,  upon  my  conscience.  Sir,  answered  the 
man. 

^  Conscience  !  a  Jew's  conscience  !  what  a  notable 
thing  to  swear  by,'  shouted  another.  Alick's  blood 
was  beginning  to  boil:  he  looked  round,  as  if  to 
single  out  some  object  for  a  burst  of  resentment, 
when  the  gunner  approaching,  said,  ^  By  your  leave, 
gentlemen,  as  nobody  seems  disposed  to  buy,  I  will 
stow  away  the  Jew's  cargo.  Well,  my  friend,  what 
are  your  terms  ?' 

The  nets  were  presently  emptied,  and  Gordon 
resumed,  '  From  what  part  of  the  world  do  you 
come  V 

^  From  Plymouth,  Sir :  very  few  of  our  people  visit 
Ireland,  and  I  am  here  but  for  a  short  time.' 

'  I  wonder  at  that :  it  is  well  known  Ireland  is  the 
only  country  that  never  persecuted  your  race.' 

'  They  had  not  the  opportunity,'  said  the  Jew  with 
a  half  grin,  '  for  we  have  not  dwelt  among  them.' 

*  Aye,  but  what  kept  you  away  ?  The  poverty  of 
the  country  you  will  say  perhaps.'     The  Jew  nodded, 


22 

'  Then  poverty  has  been  a  great  blessing  there/  con- 
tinued Gordon,  pointing  to  the  land,  '  since  it  was  the 
means  of  preserving  at  least  one  nation  from  the  deep 
curse  of  afflicting  God's  ancient  people/ 

He  spoke  the  word  curse  with  such  deliberate  em- 
phasis, and  accompanied  it  with  so  keen  a  glance 
round  him,  that  no  one  could  avoid  noticing  it. 

^  Nay,'  said  the  schoolmaster,  '  I  am  no  apologist 
^or  persecution ;  far  from  it ;  it  is  the  feature  of  a 
barbarous  age,  and  wholly  unsuited  to  these  enlight- 
ened times.  Still,  as  the  Jews  are  certainly  accursed 
by  the  word  of  the  Almighty,  I  don't  see  any  parti- 
cular sin  in  giving  them  their  share  in  the  troubles  of 
a  troublous  age.' 

The  gunner  never  contradicted  Mr.  Cowper  in 
public ;  he  therefore  only  said,  '  I  noticed  it,  sir,  as 
a  matter  of  thankfulness  to  the  Irish  people  ;  be- 
cause, though  many  nations  were  allowed,  in  old  time, 
to  oppress  the  Jews  for  their  disobedience,  yet  all 
those  who  afflicted  them  were  heavily  judged.' 

*  Aye,  but  that  was  before  their  last  unpardonable 
sin  of  crucifying  our  Saviour.' 

'  I  cannot  see.  Sir,  that  even  that  fearful  sin  is  un- 
pardonable ;  for  Paul  the  apostle,  who  was  himself  a 
persecuting,  blasphemous  Jew,  bears  witness :  "  And 
they  also,  if  they  abide  not  in  unbehef,  shall  be  grafTed 
in:  for  God  is  able  to  grafl'them  in  again."  ' 

*  Of  course  ;  individuals  are  sometimes  converted  ; 
or  at  least  profess  to  be  so.  Some  people  indeed 
doubt  whether  a  real  conversion  from  Judaism  ever 
takes  place.' 


JUDAH's  LION.  23 

It  never  does,'  muttered  the  orange-merchant  in  a 
bitter  tone. 

'  No  V  exclaimed  Gordon,  fixing  on  him  one  of 
his  most  reproving  looks.  '  Is  then  the  race  of  Abra- 
ham fallen  low  enough  to  practise  such  a  base  hypo- 
crisy— to  acknowledge  as  God  one  whom  they  still 
believe  to  have  been  a  condemned  and  executed 
malefactor  V 

The  Jew  hung  his  head :  and  one  of  the  Middies, 
throwing  himself  into  an  attitude,  theatrically  ex- 
claimed, 

*  Now,  infidel,  I  have  thee  on  the  hip.' 

Other  quotations  were  also  appHed,  in  a  jesting 
rather  than  an  ill-natured  spirit;  and  the  school- 
master remarked,  '  All  this  only  shews  the  fulfilment 
of  prophecy,  and  triumphantly  estabhshes  my  proof 
of  the  divine  inspiration  of  the  Bible.' 

'  It  does,  Mr.  Cowper,'  answered  the  gunner,  who 
appeared  not  a  little  moved  at  the  scene  before  him  ; 
'  and  blessed  be  God !  it  proves  still  more  ;  for  if  the 
threatenings  are  thus  accomplished  to  the  very  letter, 
as  we  see  they  are,  so  shall  the  promises  be.  He 
who  has  said,  "  This  people  have  I  formed  for  myself, 
and  they  shall  shew  forth  my  praise,"  will  yet  be 
glorified  in  them  before  the  face  of  all  nations.  "  For 
the  Lord  will  have  mercy  on  Jacob,  and  will  yet 
choose  Israel,  and  will  set  them  in  their  own  land." 
"  He  shall  cause  them  that  come  of  Jacob  to  take 
root ;  Israel  shall  blossom  and  bud,  and  fill  the  face 
of  the  world  with  fruit."  ' 

*  So,  then,  you  are  one  of  those  sanguine  people 


24  judah's  lion. 

who  expect  to  see  the  Jews  restored  to  Palestine  V 
said  the  schoolmaster j  smiKng. 

'  I  hope  I  am  one  of  those  believing  people  who 
dare  not  doubt  that  what  the  Lord  hath  spoken  he 
will  surely  bring  to  pass.  I  heard  your  argument, 
Sir,  yesterday,  with  Mr.  Sharpe,  and  what  you  said 
could  not  be  overthrown  ;  but  while  you  rested  on 
that  point,  the  present  degraded  state  of  Israel,  lying 
under  the  curse,  I  look  forward  to  the  closing  of  their 
day  of  calamity,  and  thought  upon  the  promise,  "  All 
nations  shall  call  you  blessed;  for  ye  shall  be  a  de-* 
lightsome  land,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts."  I  can't 
despise  a  Jew,  gentlemen,'  he  added,  looking  round 
him ;  '  I  can't  add  the  weight  of  my  finger  to  the 
burden  that  God  has  laid  on  him.  I  know  he  is  a 
standing  miracle  of  judgment,  and  I  know  too  that 
he  will,  at  least  nationally,  be  a  standing  miracle  of 
mercy.  He  is  a  branch  of  the  olive-tree,  broken  off 
through  unbelief;  but  I  am  commanded,  "  Boast  not 
thyself  against  the  branches."  Gentile  as  I  am,  I 
look  upon  a  son  of  Abraham  with  respect ;  ay,'  he 
added,  raising  his  voice,  as  he  saw  some  of  the  youths 
glance  laughingly  at  the  ragged  Jew,  upon  whose 
shoulder  he  at  the  same  moment  laid  his  hand,  '  Ay, 
sirs,  I  look  upon  this  poor  man  with  the  respect  due 
to  a  race  whom  God  chose,  and  blessed,  and  distin- 
guished among  all  people — a  race  that,  say  what  you 

will,  are  the  aristocracy  of  the  earth  ;  who,' here 

a  loud  call  v^^as  heard  for  the  gunner ;  and  he  hastened 
away. 

'  Well,  now,'  said  a  good-humoured  lad,  who  had 
checked  a  laugh  on  hearing  the  earnest  tone  of  Gor- 


judah's  lion.  25 

don,  *  well,  now,  let's  do  something  to  keep  up  the 
external  credit  of  the  aristocracy.  Who'll  add  another 
to  this  ?'  holding  up  a  half-crown,  '  to  purchase  a  bet- 
ter coat  for  this  sprig  of  nobility  V 

Several  responded  to  the  call ;  and  a  good  handful 
of  silver  was  presently  collected  in  the  cap  of  the 
young  man,  who  held  it  last  to  Alick,  shaking  its  con- 
tents, and  saying,  '  Come,  Coane,  give  us  a  specimen 
of  Gentile  generosity.' 

'  That  I  cannot  do,'  answered  Alick,  as  with  cheeks 
of  the  deepest  crimson,  and  swelling  veins,  he  added 
a  piece  of  gold  to  the  collection :  '  I  am  no  Gentile, 
but  a  Jew :  my  name  is  not  Coane,  but  Nathan  Co- 
hen ;  and  what  from  you  is  generosity  is  simple  jus- 
tice from  me.' 

He  turned  away  immediately,  half  glad,  half  re- 
gretful that  the  confession  had  been  made  under  cir- 
cumstances so  peculiar.  It  was,  in  truth,  a  burst  of 
nationality  that  surprised  himself  when  he  reflected 
upon  it.  '  It  is  as  well,  though,'  thought  he :  '  for 
they  would  have  gone  on  snarling  at  our  people  till 
some  accident  betrayed  what  neither  my  father  or  I 
ever  dreamed  of  concealing,  and  then  they  would 
have  remembered  their  impertinent  speeches,  and 
nothing  but  quarrels  could  ensue.  As  it  is,  I've  shewn 
them  that  I  am  neither  ashamed  nor  afraid  to  speak 
out :  and  I  suppose  good  manners  will  keep  them 
silent  for  the  future.  But  why  was  I  born  a  Jew  ? 
he  continued,  as  mortifying  recollections  crowded  upon 
him :  '  or  why  should  such  distinctions  be  kept  up 
among  Engli.shmen?  I  should  not  mind  turning 
Christian  to  get  rid  of  the  stigma;  but  then  they 

3 


26  judah's  lion. 

would  call  me  ^  a  converted  Jew,'  which  is  worse  still. 
And,  after  all,  what  right  has  anybody  to  despise  us  ? 
we  are  a  wealthy  race,  and  our  men  are  as  fine,  our 
women  as  handsome  as  the  best  of  them.  How  such 
vulgar  prejudices  can  exist  among  gentlemen,  I  can- 
not conceive  ;  at  any  rate,  they  must  now  hold  their 
tongues  in  my  presence.' 

And  so  they  did:  the  schoolmaster  assured  the 
young  men  that  it  was  unworthy  the  genius  of  the 
nineteenth  century  to  keep  up  such  antiquated  illi- 
beral prejudices  ;  to  which  they  readily  assented  ;  and 
while  some  frankly  apologized  to  Alick  for  the  unin- 
tentional offence  given,  others  strove  by  redoubled  at- 
tention and  respect  to  do  away  with  the  remembrance. 
Still  the  witlings  could  not  refrain  from  indulging  their 
leading  propensity  at  his  expense  ;  and  he  was  often 
vexed  and  irritated  by  casual  discoveries  of  their  jokes. 
In  reference  to  the  gunner's  expression,  his  father  was 
privately  called  the  Duke:  himself  the  Marquess; 
their  little  cabin,  ^  Duke's  Palace,'  with  sundry  other 
ludicrous  allusions,  very  annoying  to  a  proud  spirit, 
which  was  apt  to  chafe  at  trifles. 

When  next  Gordon  met  him,  he  touched  his  cap 
with  one  hand,  and  extending  the  other,  said,  '  I  ho- 
nour you  greatly,  Mr.  Cohen,  for  the  avowal  you  made 
at  such  a  time,  and  in  such  a  way.  I,  for  one,  never 
had  an  idea  of  your  being  a  Hebrew.' 

Alick  shook  heartily  the  offered  hand,  and  thanked 
him  for  supporting  the  character  of  his  people. 

*  I  doubt,  young  gentleman,  whether  I  did  that !  I 
only  repeated  God's  promises,  and  declared  my  own 
faith  in  them.     And  may  I  ask,  sir,  whether  you  too 


2r 

are  looking  forward  to  the  glorious  things  promised  to 
your  race  V 

'  Why,  indeed,  Mr.  Gordon,  I  am  so  thoroughly  the 
Englishman  that  I  know  of  no  country  preferable  to 
that  in  which  I  was  born — no  distinction  greater  than 
the  citizenship  of  her  great  metropolis ;  all  the  privi- 
leges of  which  I  hope  one  day  to  enjoy,  when  Parha- 
ment  has  done  away  with  the  obstacles  that  now  en- 
cumber our  path.  We  shall  soon  rise  above  the  petty 
carpings  that  we  now  cannot  quite  silence ;  and  all 
these  invidious  distinctions  will  be  forgotten.' 

The  old  seaman  looked  at  him  with  compassionate 
interest :  he  had  much  to  say,  but  knew  not  how  to 
introduce  it ;  nor  did  the  time  or  place  allow  of  pro- 
longed discourse.  They  parted,  therefore,  Alick  pro- 
ceeding to  the  quarter-deck,  and  the  gunner  remark- 
ing to  himself,  '  What  a  blessing  that  fine  boy  would 
become  among  his  people  if  the  Lord  were  pleased  to 
make  him  indeed  a  Jew.' 

Gordon  was  not  one  of  those  who  imagine  that  a 
Jew  when  Christianized  must  needs  be  Gentilized 
also.  He  had  very  high,  because  very  scriptural, 
views  of  the  peculiar  privileges  secured  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Abraham,  and  which  he  knew  were  not  an- 
nulled but  confirmed  by  their  becoming  subjects  of 
Messiah's  kingdom.  He  longed  to  open  the  matter 
to  Alick,  in  such  a  way  as  to  engage  his  attention, 
with  the  purpose  of  leading  him  to  the  feet  of  Him  of 
whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  prophets  did  w^ite  ; 
and  he  hoped  that  in  the  course  of  their  voyage  such 
opportunity  would  be  given. 


\^:*4C^,Ji^. 


CHAPTER  III. 

*  There  is  one  thing  that  I  can't  understand,'  said 
Alick  to  a  Midshipman,  with  whom  he  was  parading 
the  deck,  '  and  that  is  the  rank  held  by  your  friend 
the  Gunner.  He  seems  to  me  to  belong  to  every 
class,  and  yet  to  form  a  class  by  himself  Seeing  what 
disciplinarians  you  are,  and  how  rigidly  you  all  observe 
the  distinctions  of  rank,  it  often  puzzles  me  to  see 
this  Gordon  an  exception  from  all  rules.' 

'  You  are  right,'  answered  the  Middy.  '  The  Gun- 
ner is  individualized  among  a  ship's  company :  his 
office  is  very  important,  though  more  akin  to  a 
non-commissioned  officer  in  the  army  than  any 
other,  and  attained  in  the  same  way.  He  is  a  picked 
seaman  of  courage,  conduct  and  experience,  and  so 
necessary  to  us  that  we  could  not  get  on  without  him. 
Gordon  would  be  a  regular  character  in  any  situation, 
but  the  one  he  holds  is  just  made  for  him  ;  and  he  is 
thoroughly  good-natured.  When  I  was  but  half  re- 
covered from  a  sharp  fit  of  illness,  nervous,  restless, 
and  all  that,  he  let  me  go  to  his  cabin,  night  after 
night,  and  read,  talk,  or  hold  my  tongue,  as  the  fancy 
might  be,  by  his  cheerful  lamp,  when  all  the  rest  was 
darkness.' 

'  Why  is  he  exempt  from  the  barbarous  regulation 
of  "  hghts  out  "—at  half  past  eight  V 


judah^s  lion.  29 

'  Yes  :  the  Gunner  has  always  leave  to  burn  his  till 
ten.' 

*  Nay,  then,  I  must  make  friends  with  him,'  said 
Alick:  '  for  you  can't  think  how  1  hate  the  extinguish- 
ing system.' 

'  Take  care,  however,  Cohen :  for  he'll  certainly 
make  a  Methodist  of  you,'  said  the  young  man  smil- 
ing :  and  then,  as  if  a  sudden  thought  had  flashed 
across  his  mind,  he  blushed,  stammered,  and  hesita- 
tingly added,  ^  I — I  beg  your  pardon.' 

'  For  what  V  asked  Alick  staring :  *  for  thinking  I 
could  be  made  a  Methodist  of?' 

*  No,  no :  only  I  forgot  just  then — I — oh,  by  the 
way,  do  you  know  to-morrow  is  a  royal  birth-day,  and 
as  there's  a  frigate  in  company,  we  shall  treat  you 
landsmen  to  a  little  gunpowder  at  sea.' 

What  could  put  him  so  out  of  countenance  all  on 
a  sudden?  was  Alick' s  mental  inquiry:  and  then  the 
conviction  struck  him  that  his  being  a  Jew  had  re- 
curred to  his  companion's  mind,  in  some  connection 
with  the  word  Methodist :  probably  as  being  alike 
terms  of  reproach.  It  ruffled  him,  and  produced  the 
usual  effect  of  an  increased  feeling  of  estrangement 
from  all  around  him.  Meanwhile  a  very  different 
conversation,  of  which  he  was  the  subject,  was  go- 
ing on  in  another  part  of  the  ship  between  Gordon 
and  an  old  sailor,  no  less  devout  and  zealous  than 
himself,  but  by  no  means  so  partial  to  the  Jewish 
cause. 

'  I  can't  see  what  difference  it  makes,'  remarked 
Tom  Miller,  '  his  being  Jew  or  Gentile  so  long  as  he 
is  not  a  Christian.     All  you  have  to  do  is  to  seek  his 

3* 


30  judah's  lion. 

conversion,  and  then,  be  his  birth  and  lineage  what 
they  may,  he  becomes  Abraham's  child,  and  an  heir 
according  to  promise.     That's  my  mind.  Gunner.' 

*  In  one  sense,  I  agree  with  you,  Tom  ;  as  regards 
the  spiritual  privilege,  we  are  all  equal.  Sinners  alike 
by  nature,  lost  and  ruined :  saved  alike,  wholly  and 
entirely  by  grace  ;  in  which  salvation  there  is  no  dif- 
ference put  between  us,  God  purifying  our  hearts  by 
faith.  Children  of  wrath  together,  lying  under  the 
curse,  until  we  receive  together  the  adoption  of  chil- 
dren, becoming  equally  heirs  of  God,  and  joint  heirs 
with  Christ.' 

^  Ay  :  what  a  wonderful  work  is  there,'  said  the  old 
sailor ;  *  choosing  such  wretches  as  you  and  I,  taking 
us  out  of  the  mire,  from  the  dunghill  of  sin,  and  ex- 
alting us  among  the  princes.  Glory  be  to  redeeming 
grace !' 

'  Amen,  brother !  And  now,  having  agreed  in  this, 
let  us  look  a  little  farther,  and  we  shall  see  that  even 
in  a  family  of  children  where  all  are  to  inherit  pro- 
perty, there  is  a  distinction  belonging  to  the  elder, 
and  this  I  claim  for  the  Jew.  You  know  how  Paul, 
having  shewn  to  the  Romans  the  universal  sinfulness 
of  our  race,  and  that  the  national  privileges  or  supe- 
rior knowledge  of  the  Jew  will  not  save  him,  puts  the 
question,  as  from  one  taking  your  view  of  the  matter  : 
"  What  advantage  then  hath  the  Jew,  or  what  profit 
is  there  in  circumcision  ?"  and  replies  to  it,  "  Much 
every  way  ;"  going  on  to  shew  that  the  unbehef  of 
individuals  could  not  make  the  promise  of  God  of 
none  efiect.  For,  Tom,  they  are  still  beloved  for  tho 
fathers'  sakes.' 


judah's  lion.  31 

'  You  don't  mean,  any  how,  that  an  unbeheving 
Jew  will  be  saved  for  the  fathers'  sakesf 

'  No,  Tom,  no.  I  speak  of  Israel  as  a  nation,  now 
a  sapless  trunk  indeed,  blighted  and  naked,  and  to  all 
appearance  dead:  but  for  the  sake  of  the  root,  which 
was  holy  before  God,  he  will  once  more  cause  life  to 
circulate,  and  the  old  tree  to  put  forth  leaves  and 
branches  yet  again  ;  ay,  and  such  branches  too  as 
shall  overshadow  the  whole  earth !' 

'  Well,  I  shan't  argue  with  you,  seeing  I  have  not 
half  your  knowledge,  Mr.  Gordon ;  but  my  poor  prayers 
are  offered  for  yonder  dear  boy,  that  he,  at  any  rate, 
may  grow  up  as  a  young  plant  in  the  courts  of  the 
Lord's  house.' 

It  was  the  peculiar  trial  of  the  good  Gunner  to  meet 
with  very  few,  even  among  enhghtened  Christians, 
who  could  enter  into  his  views  respecting  God's  de- 
clared purpose  towards  his  ancient  people.  Those 
views  he  perfectly  well  knew  to  be  scriptural ;  but  he 
also  knew  that  their  reception  was  by  no  means  ne- 
cessary to  the  spiritual  well-being  of  a  believer:  though 
again  he  was  aware  that  to  overlook  any  plainly  re- 
vealed truth,  cannot  be  well-pleasing  to  Him  w^ho  has 
given  us  no  idle  or  unnecessary  words  to  perplex  us. 
He  rather  loved,  when  with  his  fellow- Christians,  to 
be  building  themselves  up  on  their  most  holy  faith  in 
things  absolutely  essential,  than  to  be  engaged  in  con- 
troversy on  matters  that  were  not  so  ;  but  seeing  how 
manifestly  the  reception  of  these  truths  quickened  the 
zeal  and  heightened  the  enjoyment  of  such  as  were 
enabled  to  perceive  them,  he  could  not  altogether  keep 
silence.     The  feelings  with  which  he  regarded  the  in- 


32  judah's  lion. 

teresting  young  Israelite  on  board  were  probably 
strengthened  by  being  pent  up  within  his  bosom,  and 
certainly  were  prepared  for  an  explosion  on  the  first 
opportunity. 

The  day  noticed  as  a  royal  birth-day  was  also  the 
Christian  Sabbath ;  and  Alick,  who  had  never  wit- 
nessed the  sight  of  a  ship's  company  assembled  for  di- 
vine service,  readily  accompanied  the  superior  officers 
on  their  round  of  inspection  at  divisions.  The  clean, 
handsome,  healthy  appearance  of  the  men,  their  be- 
coming deportment,  and  all  the  beautifully-ordered  ar- 
rangements, down  to  the  graceful  disposition  of  the 
Union  Jack,  throwing  its  thick  folds  over  the  grog- 
tub  and  log-board  that  formed  the  pulpit,  all  attracted 
his  admiration ;  and  he  sat,  a  quiet,  if  not  an  interested 
auditor,  during  the  hour  of  prayers. 

The  first  lesson  for  the  day  was  that  sublime  portion 
of  Scripture,  the  23d  and  24th  chapters  of  Numbers. 
It  arrested  his  attention  more  than  once,  by  the  re- 
peated mention  of  Jacob  and  Israel,  and  the  abun- 
dance of  the  reiterated  promises :  but  such  was  his 
ignorance  of  every  thing  connected  with  the  Bible, 
that  he  did  not  know  it  formed  a  part  of  the  ancient 
Scriptures ;  much  less  that  it  was  the  writing  of  Moses. 
At  one  time  he  caught  the  old  Gunner's  eye  fixed  al- 
ternately upon  the  reader  and  on  him,  with  such  an 
eagerly-animated  expression,  that  it  made  him  anxious 
to  know  what  might  be  the  reason  ;  he  listened,  and 
heard  the  words,  "  God  brought  him  forth  out  of 
Egypt ;  he  hath,  as  it  were,  the  strength  of  a  unicorn: 
he  shall  eat  up  the  nations,  his  enemies,  and  shall 
break  their  bones,  and  pierce  them  through  with  his 


33 

arrows.  He  couched,  he  lay  down  as  a  lion,  and  as 
a  great  Hon:  who  shall  stir  him  up?  Blessed  is  he 
that  blesseth  thee,  and  cursed  is  he  that  curseth  thee." 

The  wind  was  whistling  among  the  sails,  which  in- 
duced the  chaplain,  whose  feelings  did  not  appear  to 
be  so  much  roused  by  what  he  was  reading  as  those 
of  some  of  his  auditors  were,  to  elevate  his  voice  con- 
siderably, while  uttering  this  passage  ;  and  a  perfect 
lull  of  a  few  moments  occurring  at  the  same  time, 
gave  strong  effect  to  the  concluding  words.  Some 
who  remembered  the  Gunner's  expression  a  day  or 
two  before,  when  the  poor  Jew  was  on  board,  could 
not  help  stealing  a  look  at  Alick,  who  was  an  object 
of  more  interest,  perhaps,  than  any  thing  else  among 
them.  Service  being  concluded,  a  general  stir  took 
place,  for,  in  honour  of  the  day  the  royal  standard 
was  to  be  hoisted,  and  saluted  with  twenty-one  guns. 

A  light,  fresh  breeze  was  stirring,  the  sun  shone 
brilliantly  ;  and  the  sails,  whitened  by  a  morning 
shower,  looked,  as  Alick  remarked,  like  the  plumage 
of  a  swan,  as  the  noble  ship  rolled  gracefully  through 
the  waves.  While  gazing  upwards  with  admiration 
at  the  beautiful  contrast  between  a  very  deep  blue  sky 
and  the  snowy  canvas  outspread  to  catch  the  breeze, 
he  suddenly  beheld  what  is  ever  dear  to  the  heart, 
and  glorious  in  the  eye  of  a  Briton,  the  magnificent 
standard  of  England,  unfolding  its  gorgeous  blazonry 
in  glowing  contrast  to  both,  and  casting  a  ruddy  gleam 
upon  the  water  beneath.  There  was  something  in 
the  very  act  of  unfurling  this  flag  at  sea,  that  together 
with  the  splendid  effect  produced,  transported  Alick 
to  a  fit  of  enthusiasm.     He  took  off  his  hat,  and  loudly 


34 

cheered  the  flag.  The  first  heutenant  passing  at  that 
moment,  touched  his  shoulder,  saying  with  a  smile, 
^  A  little  patience,  Mr.  Cohen :  wait  for  the  salute.' 
This  was  presently  given:  the  thunder  of  the  guns, 
the  wreathing  of  the  hght  blue  smoke,  as  it  rose  and 
curled  away ;  the  strong  vibration  of  the  ship's  side 
against  which  he  leaned,  and  theToud,  long,  measured 
cadence  of  three  hearty  cheers,  given  at  the  full  pitch 
of  some  seven  hundred  manly  voices,  altogether  kin- 
dled the  fire  of  Alick's  spirit,  as  it  had  never  been  kin- 
dled before :  he  was  in  the  height  of  that  enjoynnent 
which  to  a  young  and  ardent  mind  outweighs  all  that 
wealth  and  power  can  bestow.  He  w^anted  but  one 
thing — he  longed  to  trace  a  fellow-feeling  somewhere, 
that  he  might  be  tempted  to  speak  out  the  delight 
which  swelled  his  heart ;  but  he  was  alone  ;  no  one 
just  then  beside  him,  nor  did  any  body  appear  to  be 
at  all  excited  by  what  occasioned  him  so  great  emo- 
tion. Again  he  gazed  upon  the  crimson  flag:  and 
presently  was  greeted  by  the  loud  cheerful  voice  of 
Gordon,  abruptly  exclaiming,  '  Ay,  Mr.  Cohen,  there 
floats  the  Lion  of  Judah.' 

'  The  Lion  of  England,  I  suppose  you  mean,'  said 
an  officer  somewhat  sharply,  who  had  caught  the 
remark  as  he  passed. 

'The  Lions  of  England,  Sir,  and  the  Lion  of 
Judah  also,  I  beheve,'  answered  the  Gunner,  touching 
his  cap,  '  I  have  heard  it  so  remarked,  and  by  one 
well  read  in  heraldry.' 

'Holloa,  Sharpe!'  cried  the  other,  'come,  here's 
this  fellow  Gordon  making  Jews  of  us  all!' 

'  Pardon  me,  gentlemen,'  said  the  Gunner,  as  se- 


JUDAH  S    LION.  ^  35 

veral  gathered  round  at  this  summons,  ^  I  believe  yoa 
will  find  on  examination,  that  the  arms  of  England 
contained  only  two  lions,  until  our  Richard  the  first 
added  a  third,  after  his  conquest  in  Palestine,  and 
that  third  lion  he  prohahly  adopted  as  the  well-known 
standard  of  the  country  where  his  greatest  exploits 
were  performed,  and  a  chief  type  of  Him,  "  the  Lion 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,"  whose  cause  he  professed  to 
uphold  against  the  infidel  Saracens.' 

^  This  is  all  conjecture,'  said  one  of  the  gentlemen, 
laughing,  ^  and  a  very  wild  conjecture  too.' 

^  So  it  is,'  observed  another  :  '  and  yet  I  have  known, 
grave  volumes  of  history  founded  on  conjecture  more 
improbable  than  this.' 

A  great  debate  followed,  embracing  various  topics 
of  history,  heraldry,  and  other  matters,  to  which  nei- 
ther the  Gunner  nor  Alick  staid  to  listen :  the  former 
proceeded  to  his  post ;  the  latter  went  and  leaned 
over  the  stern,  watching  for  the  glancing  reflection  of 
the  banner  on  the  silver  spray. 

'  Judah's  Lion  !'  thought  he  ;  '  what  a  strange  idea 
that  is ;  and  yet  1  don't  see  but  it  may  be  perfectly 
correct.  Richard  bore  the  title  Cceur-de-lion^  and 
might,  in  consideration  of  that  distinction,  clap  a 
third  lion  upon  his  shield.  He  might,  to  be  sure  ; 
but  on  the  other  hand,  how  very  natural  it  would  be 
that  he,  who  became  by  his  conquests  lord  of  Pa- 
lestine, should  incorporate  that  trophy  with  his  own. 
Judah's  lion!'  he  again  repeated,  chuckhng  as  the 
thought  arose,  ^if  so,  why  England  fights  under  our 
banner — she  may  point  to  the  standard  of  the  de- 
spised Jew,  and  say,  "  In  hoc  signo  vinces."     I'll  go 


36 

this  very  night  to  the  Gunner's  cahin,  and  get  some 
further  information  from  him.  'Twill  be  better  at  any 
rate  than  turning  into  bed  at  such  an  unreasonable 
hour.' 

And  Alick,  happily  for  him,  kept  his  resolution. 
No  sooner  were  the  lights  extinguished,  than  he  pro- 
ceeded to  the  snug  little  cell,  tapping  at  the  door,  and 
being  told  to  walk  in,  found  the  Gunner  seated  at  a 
small  table,  with  a  large  book  before  him.  '  I  beg 
your  pardon,  Mr.  Gordon:  I  won't  interrupt  you,  as 
you  are  reading.' 

'  Reading  or  not,  you  don't  internipt  me,  young 
gentleman :   I  am  delighted  to  see  you  here.' 

'  May  I  sit  with  you  a  little  while,  Mr.  Gordon  ? 
May  I  ask  you  a  few  questions  about  the  Lion?' 

The  Gunner  sprang  from  his  seat,  bolted  the  door, 
and  said  in  a  voice  that  faltered  with  suppressed  emo- 
tion. '  As  long  as  you  please  you  shall  sit  here,  and 
nobody  shall  interrupt  us  while  we  talk,  as  by  God's 
blessing,  we  will  talk' — and  he  clasped  his  hands  to- 
gether as  he  leaned  them  on  the  Bible — '  on  the  most 
stirring,  the  most  glorious  of  all  subjects — "  the  Lion 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah!'" 

'  You  are  very  fond  of  our  people,  Mr.  Gordon,'  said 
Alick,  smiling. 

*  Sir,  I  owe  to  your  people  more  than  my  hfe  :  I 
owe  to  them  this  book,  the  writings  of  Moses  and  the 
prophets,  who  were  all  Jew^s;  the  writings  of  the 
EvangeHsts  and  Apostles,  who  were  all  likewise 
Jews :  and  through  them  the  knowledge  of  my  Lord 
and  Saviour,  the  King  of  the  Jews,  God  over  all, 
blessed  for  ever !' 


37 

This  was  more  than  Alick  Cohen  could  under- 
stand: hut  he  did  not  mean  to  enter  into  any  theolo- 
gical discussion  ;  therefore  he  only  said.  ^  I  am  glad 
you  love  us,  Mr.  Gordon,  and  I'm  sure  I  love  Chris- 
tians ;  at  least  such  as  you  are.  But  now  about  the 
Lion  on  the  standard,  and  king  Richard  adopting  it.' 

^  You  heard  this  morning  all  I  knew  of  that,'  re- 
plied Gordon.  '  My  small  stock  of  information  was 
soon  communicated.  I  saw  you  looking  at  the  royal 
standard,  with  feelings  that  I  very  well  understood; 
for  I  have  served  under  that  flag,  Mr.  Cohen,  ever 
since  I  was  a  little  boy — a  little  cabin-boy,  blacking 
the  officers'  shoes:  for  though,  by  the  goodness  of 
God,  I  have  risen  to  a  responsible  and  respectable 
station,  and  am  treated  so  kindly  by  gentlemen  born 
and  bred,  yet,  sir,  I  sprang  from  very  humble  pa- 
rents, the  poor  of  this  world,  only  rich  in  faith,  who 
could'nt  have  afforded  me  the  means  of  learning  to 
read.  I  came  first  on  board  a  ship,  hoping  just  to 
pick  up  a  few  crumbs  of  biscuit  by  doing  any  menial 
work — an  honest  little  vagabond,  afraid  to  steal,  and 
ashamed  to  beg  while  my  small  fingers  could  work. 
But  you  see,  sir,  I  have  had  a  good  Master  to  serve, 
and  after  some  hard  rubs,  he  has  brought  me  to 
honour,  as  I  may  call  it.  And  now  Mr.  Cohen,  I  ad- 
vise you  to  serve  the  same  Master,  who  will  be  equally 
gracious  to  you.  To  return  to  the  standard,  as  I 
said,  I  saw  you  looking  on  it,  with  the  heart  of  an 
Englishman  ;  and  perhaps  not  knowing  that  it  had 
its  commendation  to  the  heart  of  an  Israelite  too.' 

'  I  was  quite  ignorant  of  it,  indeed :  and  I  should 
like  to  know  more  about  our  old  Lion.' 

4 


38  judah's  lion. 

^  You  remember,'  said  Gordon,  ^  how  your  great 
ancestor,  Jacob,  blessed  his  twelve  sons,  the  heads  of 
the  twelve  tribes,  before  he  died ;  and  the  particular 
mention  of  the  lion  in  Judah's  blessing?' 

Alick  did  not  remember,  because  he  did  not  know 
a  word  about  it ;  however,  his  curiosity  was  excited, 
and  he  said,  '  To  tell  you  the  truth,  Mr.  Gordon,  I 
have  been  rather  a  bad  student.  I  read  what  was  put 
into  my  hands,  but  never  gave  proper  attention  to  it : 
so  though  I  may  have  seen  it  all  before,  any  thing 
you  see  good  enough  to  tell  me  will  be  as  new  to  me 
as  if  I  had  not' 

'  Well,  come  here,  and  look  at  this  page,  where 
the  whole  is  related  by  your  great  Lawgiver,  Moses.' 
He  turned  to  the  forty-ninth  chapter  of  Genesis,  and 
saying  in  a  low  but  distinct  voice,  '  May  the  God  of 
Jacob  bless  it  to  our  souls  for  Jesus  Christ's  sake,'  he 
pointed  out  the  eighth  verse,  requesting  Alick  to  read 
it,  who,  colouring  with  a  feeling  that  he  could  not  de- 
fine, began,  "  Judah,  thou  art  he  whom  thy  brethren 
shall  praise,  thy  hand  shall  be  in  the  neck  of  thine 
enemies,  thy  father's  children  shall  bow  down  before 
thee.  Judah  is  a  lion's  whelp  :  from  the  prey,  my  son 
thou  art  gone  up :  he  stooped  down,  he  couched  as  a 
lion,  and  as  an  old  lion  ;  who  shall  rouse  him  up?" 
Alick  here  exclaimed,  '  Wby,  we  heard  that  in  the 
morning.' 

*  Yes :  but  not  in  the  same  part  of  the  book ;  we 
will  see  to  that  presently :  go  on,  if  you  please.'  Alick 
resumed. 

'  "  The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from  Judah,  nor  a 
Lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come  ; 


39 

and  unto  him  shall  the  gathering  of  the  people  be. 
Binding  his  foal  unto  the  vine,  and  his  ass's  colt  unto 
the  choice  vine  ;  he  washed  his  garments  in  wine, 
and  his  clothes  in  the  blood  of  grapes ;  his  eyes  shall 
be  red  with  wine,  and  his  teeth  white  with  milk." 
This  is  prose,  but  really  I  never  read  poetry  so  beau- 
tiful, Mr.  Gordon.  The  sceptre  is  departed  from  Ju- 
dah,  alas!' — and  that  sigh  was  the  first  Alick  ever 
gave  to  the  desolation  of  his  people — '  but  I  don't 
know  who  Shiloh  is.  In  fact  I  feel  I  am  shamefully 
ignorant  of  things  I  ought  to  know.  Please  to  tell  me, 
Mr.  Gordon,  who  is  Shiloh  V 

As  the  boy  turned  his  bright  eyes  on  his  companion, 
the  expression  of  humility,  submission,  and  earnest- 
ness upon  his  ingenuous  countenance  so  touched  the 
warm  heart  of  the  old  christian  sailor,  that  for  the 
moment  his  voice  failed  him.  He  pointed  upwards, 
and  then  said,  '  Pray  that  you  may  know  him.' 

Alick  dropped  his  eyes,  looking  disappointed,  and 
Gordon  resumed,  '  I  will  point  out  something  remark- 
able to  you.  These  words  spoken  by  Jacob  could  not 
be  known  to  that  heathen  idolater  Balaam,  when  the 
king  of  Moab  sent  him  to  curse  Israel ;  yet  see  how 
similar  are  the  terms  he  uses ;  in  fact  the  same  ;' 
and  he  turned  to  the  twenty-fourth  of  Numbers,  point- 
ing out  the  9th  verse,  "  He  couched,  he  lay  down  as  a 
lion,  and  as  a  great  lion,  who  shall  stir  him  up?"  ^  That 
is  singular,'  said  Alick,  ^how  do  you  account  for  it?' 

^  By  the  fact,  that  both  spake  as  they  were  moved 
by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  ;  Jacob  willingly  ;  wicked 
Balaam  against  his  will :  and  this  not  only  confirms 
the  prophecy,  but  makes  it  doubly  observable.' 


40 

'  That's  true.  Do  you  see,  too,  it  is  said  here  that 
he,  that  is  Jacoh,  "  hath  as  it  were  the  strength  of  an 
unicorn."  The  unicorn  also  is  in  the  royal  arms  of 
England.' 

Gordon  smiled,  delighted  at  finding  the  youth  thus 
interested.  ^  I  never  thought  of  the  unicorn  before, 
I  acknowledge,  hut  your  remark  is  true.  And  now 
see  another  prediction  of  Shiloh :  "  There  shall  come 
a  star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  sceptre  shall  rise  out  of  Is- 
rael ;"  this  star,  this  sceptre  is  Shiloh.' 

'  How  can  that  be  V  asked  Alick  quickly.  '  The 
sceptre  was  to  depart  when  Shiloh  came ;  how  then 
can  Shiloh  be  a  sceptre.' 

*  I'll  tell  you,'  said  Gordon,  with  increased  anima- 
tion, ^  and  oh,  what  a  privilege  it  is  to  tell  you  things 
on  the  knowledge  of  which  depends  the  salvation  of 
your  immortal  soul  !      This  sceptre  of  Jacob — ' 

Before  he  could  add  another  word,  a  rap  at  the 
door  was  followed  by  a  summons  to  attend  the  first 
Lieutenant  immediately.  Gordon's  countenance  had 
never  looked  so  clouded,  as  it  did  on  hearing  this  ;  he 
rose  heavily,  and  Alick  said,  '  Never  mind :  you'll  let 
me  come  another  time,  I  know,  and  then  you  can  tell 
me  more  of  this.  I  am  very,  very  much  obliged  to 
you,  Mr.  Gordon,  indeed  I  am.  I'll  try  to  become  a 
better  scholar,  and  at  all  events  I'll  never  rest  till  I 
find  out  all  that  is  to  be  found  out  about  Judah's  Lion.' 

'  Dear  boy  !'  thought  the  Gunner  as  he  hastened 
upon  deck,  ^  you  little  know  how  true  a  word  you  have 
spoken.  Rest,  indeed,  can  never  be  yours  till  you 
come  to  a  right  acquaintance  with  the  Lamb  that  was 
slain-—"  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  ?"  ' 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Man's  enmity  against  the  truth  is  the  most  active 
principle  within  him.  He  may  affect  to  despise,  but 
in  reahty  he  fears  while  he  hates  it,  and  stoutly  resists 
every  accession  to  the  ranks  of  true  believers.  He 
that  is  born  after  the  flesh,  naturally  desires  to  perse- 
cute a  brother  born  after  the  Spirit ;  and  there  was 
no  exception  to  this  rule  on  board  Her  Majesty's  ship 
;  though  as  yet  the  pious  Gunner  had  not  expe- 
rienced its  operation,  beyond  a  few  petty  annoyances, 
which  he  scarcely  felt. 

But  who  with  impunity  shall  stretch  forth  the  hand 
to  unwind  the  web  in  which  Satan  holds  captive  a 
lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel !  Judaism,  the  shell 
wherein  lies,  concealed  and  useless  to  its  possessor, 
the  rich  kernel  of  the  gospel,  and  Popery,  the  worth- 
less husk  from  which  that  kernel  has  been  privily 
eaten  out,  are  the  objects  of  his  peculiar  vigilance. 
To  reveal  to  the  Jews  the  undiscovered  riches,  and  to 
the  Papist  the  unsuspected  hollowness  of  what  he 
grasps,  is  to  shake  the  pillars  of  that  throne  whereon 
the  Prince  of  darkness  sits ;  for  well  he  knows  that 
the  restoration  of  Israel  and  the  destruction  of  Popery 
are  the  appointed  signals  for  fettering  him  in  the  bot- 
tomless pit. 

Sharpe  the  infidel  was  a  ready  tool  in  the  work  of 


42 

hindering  the  truth.  He  really  dreaded  no  man  on 
board  in  an  argument  except  Gordon,  for  he  alone 
wielded  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  against  him.  The 
only  instance  in  which  he  had  been  effectually  silenced 
by  the  learned  but  unenlightened  schoolmaster,  was, 
when  the  latter  appealed  to  the  state  of  the  Jews  as  a 
living  testimony  to  the  verity  of  God's  word;  and  the 
way  in  which  Gordon  followed  it  up  increased  his  an- 
noyance. He  noticed,  with  sullen  dislike,  the  grow- 
ing cordiality  between  the  Gunner  and  Ahck  Cohen, 
and  without  caring  a  straw  whether  the  boy  continued 
a  Jew  or  became  a  *  Methodist' — for  Mr.  Sharpe,  like 
many  better  and  wiser  people,  fancied  that  in  becom- 
ing a  Christian  a  man  must  cease  to  be  a  Jew — he 
resolved  to  make  it  an  occasion  for  punishing  the  ob- 
jects of  his  malice. 

He  easily  managed  to  convey  to  Mr.  Cohen  some 
hints  on  the  unsuitableness  to  his  rank  in  life  of  the 
intimacy  his  young  son  seemed  disposed  to  form  ;  with 
an  as&urance  that  if  allowed  to  continue  it  he  would 
be  seduced,  not  merely  from  the  religion  of  his  fathers, 
but  to  join  a  sect  so  extremely  bigotted,  narrow-mind- 
ed, and  despised  by  all  sensible  people,  as  to  become 
a  scoff  among  respectable  Christians.  This  exceed- 
ingly alarmed  Mr.  Cohen  :  he  sent  for  Alick,  and  be- 
stowed on  him  a  reprimand  for  losing  sight  of  his  sta- 
tion in  society,  and  without  making  any  allusion  to 
religion,  prohibited  him  from  further  acquaintance 
with  the  waiTant-ofRcer,  in  whose  cabin  he  heard  he 
had  been  sitting  after  the  lights  were  out. 

'  That  was  the  very  reason,  father,'  said  Alick,  who 
had  no  desire  to  put  it  on  any  other  footing.     '  Do  you 


judah's  lion.  43 

blame  me  for  availing  myself  of  a  good  candle,  in- 
stead of  going  to  bed  at  nursery-hours  V 

'  You  are  not  obliged  to  go  to  bed ;  'tis  very  pleas- 
ant on  deck  in  the  evening.' 

'  I'm  v^alking  the  deck  all  day,'  said  Alick,  fret- 
fully ;  ^  and  a  little  quietness  at  night,  vi^ithout  being 
shut  up  vi^holly  in  the  dark,  I  may  surely  enjoy.' 

^  Nonsense !  you  have  companions  of  your  own  age 
and  rank,  every  way  suitable,  and  may  be  well  con- 
tent to  do  as  they  do.  Hold  no  further  intercourse 
with  this  Boatswain,  or  whatever  they  call  him  ;  and 
remember  it  is  but  for  a  short  time.  You  will  soon 
be  ashore,  and  may  burn  candles  all  night :  and  all 
day  too,  if  you  please.' 

Alick  smiled:  his  father's  good-humoured  way  of 
speaking  had  always  influenced  him  more  than  any 
principle  of  obedience  would  have  done  ;  and  he  re- 
solved to  follow  his  own  inclination  without  ^  vexing' 
a  parent  whom  he  loved,  by  open  rebellion. 

Meanwhile  Sharpe,  having  satisfied  himself  that 
Mr.  Cohen  would  not  sanction  any  farther  intimacy 
between  his  son  and  the  Gunner,  went  to  the  first 
Lieutenant,  who  was  on  deck ;  and  Sharpe  was  glad 
to  perceive  the  Captain  so  near  as  to  be  v^dthin  hear- 
ing. He  mentioned  to  the  Lieutenant  that  their  wor- 
thy passenger  was  made  exceedingly  unhappy  by  dis- 
covering that  Gordon,  whom  every  one  knew  to  be  a 
fanatic  in  religion,  was  tampering  with  his  son's  creed. 
^  A  Jew,'  continued  he,  '  feels  his  disadvantage  among 
so  many  Christians :  but  he  is  really  a  gentleman,  and 
as  such' — 

'  Of  course,  of  course,  Mr.  Sharpe,'  interrupted  the 


44 

Captain ;  and  Sharpe,  seeing  his  words  had  produced 
the  desired  effect,  touched  his  cap  and  retreated. 

Gordon  was  summoned,  reprimanded,  and  informed 
that  any  farther  interference  with  the  young  gentle- 
man would  be  considered  an  act  of  insubordination, 
and  treated  accordingly. 

'Alas!'  thought  the  Christian  sailor,  as  he  slowly 
withdrew,  '  how  many  are  the  foes  that  rise  up  against 
Israel!  Must  I  withhold  my  hand  from  a  work 
brought  to  me  in  a  way  so  remarkable  and  unexpect- 
ed ?  I  can't  think  it  a  part  of  my  duty  to  obey  this 
order:  there's  nothing  in  the  articles  of  war  to  au- 
thorize it ;  and  if  I  suffer  unjustly,  not  for  a  breach 
of  duty,  but  for  righteousness'  sake,  I  lose  a  little 
worldly  profit  and  credit,  but  not  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord.'  Raising  his  eyes,  he  saw  Alick  among  the 
rigging,  laughingly  exulting  in  having,  by  his  superior 
agility,  outstripped  a  fat,  titled  Middy  in  a  climbing 
race.  '  The  noble  boy !  No,  I  won't  give  him  up  : 
I  won't,'  repeated  the  Gunner,  stoutly. 

But  the  next  day  Alick,  watching  an  opportunity, 
eagerly  accosted  him.  '  Mr.  Gordon,  hush !  I'm  for- 
bidden to  speak  to  you ;  so  tell  me  when  and  where 
I  may  do  it  without  fear  of  discovery.' 

'  Who  forbade  you,  Mr.  Cohen  V 

^  My  father.'  The  Gunner's  countenance  instantly 
fell,  and  he  looked  so  distressed  that  Alick  anxiously 
continued.  '  It  is  all  through  the  malicious  spite  of 
some  blackguard  or  another — very  likely  that  Sharpe  ; 
and  though  I  wont  displease  my  father  openly,  it  shall 
not  hinder  my  talking  with  you  as  much  as  I  can.' 

*  No,  Mr.  Cohen :  the  law  of  Moses,  or  rather  of 


judah's  lion.  45 

God,  the  law  which  Christ  came  not  to  destroy  but  to 
fulfil,  the  immutable  law  of  the  ten  commandments, 
bids  you  honour  your  father  and  your  mother.  Obe- 
dience to  parents  is  a  duty  that  none  may  neglect. 
Your  father  commands,  you  must  obey.' 

^  But  this  command  was  unjust  and  unreasonable ; 
besides,  I  see  no  cause  why  I  should  be  in  leading- 
strings  to  anybody.  I'm  old  enough  to  think  for  my- 
self 

Gordon  drew  a  small  Bible  from  his  pocket ;  and 
turning  to  the  twenty- first  chapter  of  Deuteronomy, 
requested  Alick  to  read  the  eighteenth  and  three 
following  verses,  saying,  '  That  command  was  given 
to  your  father.' 

The  youth  read  it  in  silence  ;  then  turning  rapidly 
over  the  leaves  of  the  volume,  and  glancing  at  the 
title-page,  he,  suddenly  looking  up,  said,  with  a  manly 
bluntness  that  had  more  than  once  struck  the  Gunner 
as  characteristic  of  growing  decision — '  Mr.  Gordon,  I 
wish  you  would  lend  me  this  book.' 

*  Lend  it  you !  Ay,  that  I  will :  and  I'll  lend  it  you 
till  you  have  read  every  word  in  it,  and  can  say  you 
have  no  more  use  for  it :  which  will  not  come  to  pass 
till  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  take  to  him  his 
great  power  and  comes  to  reign.  The  book  is  yours, 
Mr.  Cohen :  read  it,  and  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge  are  yours.' 

'  But  now,'  said  Alick  smiling,  '  suppose  Papa 
catches  me  at  it,  and  says,  "  I  forbid  you  to  read  it," 
what  shall  I  do?' 

'  Obey  God  rather  than  man.  You  must  obey  your 
parents,  because  God  has  commanded  it :  but  if  they 


n' 


46  jtjdah's  lion. 

order  you  to  do  anything  contrary  to  his  command, 
they  do  away  with  their  own  authority  which  is 
founded  on  his  command.' 

*  And  does  God  command  me  to  read  this  book  V 

'  He  does,  sir,  as  you  will  soon  find  if  you  examine 
it.  The  ^\e  first  books,  the  Pentateuch,  or  books  of 
the  law,  were  written  by  Moses  himself:  and  every 
king  of  Israel  was  required  not  only  to  read,  but  with 
his  own  hand  to  write  out  the  law  as  there  given.  At 
this  day  it  is  read  in  your  synagogues,  and  held  in  the 
deepest  veneration.' 

*  What !  is  this  the  law,  the  Thorah  of  our  people  ? 
I  had  no  idea  of  that.  Will  it  tell  me  any  more  about 
the  Lion  of  Judah  V 

*  Everything,  if  you  will  but  pray  to  have  your  eyes 
opened,  and  your  understanding  enlightened:  and  now 
farewell,  Mr.  Cohen  ;  my  dear  young  friend,  I  hope  I 
may  say.  No  farther  conversation  must  we  have  ; 
but  I'll  pray  for  you  day  and  night,  in  the  name  of  the 
King  Messiah,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  And  he  turned 
away,  scarcely  able  to  restrain  his  tears,  but  rejoicing 
in  heart,  while  Alick,  after  warmly  shaking  his  hand, 
pocketed  the  little  Bible  and  walked  off 

'  How  sinful  I  was,'  thought  the  Gunner,  ^  to  doubt 
that  everything  would  be  better  ordered  than  I  could 
have  devised  or  dreamed  of  There  he  has  got  hold 
of  the  great  scripture  principle  of  obedience;  and  his 
poor  blind  father,  in  depriving  him  of  such  a  broken 
cistern  as  I  should  have  been,  has  put  him  in  the  way 
of  drawing  direct  from  the  fountain  of  living  waters. 
I  dared  not  hope  I  should  persuade  him  to  accept  a 
Bible,  and  he  has  asked  me  for  it !' 


JUD All's    LION.  47 

Sharpe,  who  expected  a  very  difTerent  expression 
of  countenance,  was  sorely  perplexed  to  see  Gordon 
look  so  contented,  and  even  joyous.  He  narrowly 
watched  to  detect  any  clandestine  doings,  but  in  vain. 
Nothing  of  the  sort  took  place  ;  the  only  dissatisfied 
countenance  that  he  saw  was  in  his  looking-glass :  all 
against  whose  peace  he  had  practised  were  pleased 
and  happy. 

Alick  first  found,  and  re-perused  the  prophecy  of 
Balaam ;  and  then  resolved  to  read  the  book  regu- 
larly through.  This  was  not  an  easy  task  on  board 
ship  ;  and  as  his  father  overcame  the  first  effects  of 
the  sea,  he  kept  him  much  with  him.  We  all  know 
how  many  ways  Satan  has  of  hindering  the  study  of 
God's  word ;  and  no  marvel  if  poor  Alick  expe- 
rienced many  an  interruption.  Reading  as  opportu- 
nity served  and  inclination  prompted,  he  had  just  fin- 
ished the  book  of  Genesis,  when  they  neared  the  straits 
of  Gibraltar  ;  and  thenceforward  he  had  no  eyes  or 
thought,  save  for  the  look-out.  They  soon  anchored 
in  the  noble  harbour  of  Valetta,  and  disembarking, 
took  up  their  temporary  abode  ;  the  ship  being  detain- 
ed for  the  next  packet,  which  was  expected  soon,  with 
dispatches  from  Malta. 

Here  Alick  was  destined  to  encounter  the  grand 
stumbling-block  of  his  people,  against  w^hich  Gordon 
had  intended  to  warn  him.  Strolling  about  with  one 
of  the  Middies,  the  day  after  their  arrival,  he  descried 
at  some  little  distance  a  long  line  of  procession,  per- 
sons robed  and  cowled,  bearing  banners,  and  what 
greatly  surprised  him,  lighted  tapers  that  glared  with 
a  strange  sickly  aspect  under  a  briUiant  sun.     Before 


48  JUDAH  S    LION. 

reaching  them,  the  procession  turned  off  into  a  cross 
street,  and  AUck  asked  his  companion  what  it  was. 
*  The  host,  I  suppose,  by  the  manner  in  which  the 
people  reverenced  it.  By  the  way,  if  ever  you  meet 
it,  be  sure  to  take  off  your  hat,  and  stand  still  till  it  is 
past.' 

'  With  all  my  heart :  but  why?* 

*  Why !  because  every-body  does ;  that  is,  all  Chris- 
tians do,  and  I  suppose  all  other  people.' 

'  I  have  seen  many  processions  in  London,'  ob- 
served Alick:  *but,  except  to  cheer  the  Q.ueen,  or  the 
Duke,  or  some  big-wig,  I  never  took  off  my  hat' 

*  They  don't  carry  the  host  about  in  London,'  said 
the  Middy. 

^  Well,  but  what  is  tliis  host  ?  What  is  it  made 
of?' 

'  'Tis  made  of  a  wafer,  but  they  think  it  is  God.' 
Alick  stared  most  wildly  at  his  companion,  who,  feel- 
ing his  deficiency  in  theological  learning,  changed  the 
subject.  However,  the  young  Jew  questioned  his 
father  about  it  in  the  evening,  who  carelessly  said, 
^  Most  of  the  people  here  are  Catholics,  and  their  re- 
ligion is  more  openly  professed  than  in  England,  where 
liberality  holds  a  very  slow  march.  We  have  nothing 
to  do  with  it,  Alick ;  but  as  a  matter  of  good-breeding 
and  policy,  we  must  show  the  same  respect  to  it  that 
others  do.' 

'  Well,  but,  father,  explain  to  me  what  this  host,  or 
wafer,  is.' 

'  A  thin  cake,  I  believe,  which  the  priest,  by  speak- 
ing some  words,  pretends  to  turn  into  the  body  of 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  who  was  crucified  with  others,  as 


-.r-' 


JUDAH  S   LION.  49 

a  malefactor,  nearly  two  thousand  years  ago,  and 
whom  the  Christians  call  their  God.  Therefore  they 
worship  the  wafer,  or  host.' 

Alick  made  no  reply :  in  reality  he  was  enraged. 
The  little  he  had  read  of  the  Scriptures  had  impressed 
him  with  high  and  reverential  views  of  the  Creator ; 
and  with  a  feeling  approaching  to  filial  appropriation 
of  the  God  of  his  father  Abraham.  He  had  a  vivid 
imagination,  a  conception  of  the  beautiful,  and  still 
more  of  the  sublime ;  and  all  that  Gordon  had  said 
tended  to  enlarge  his  apprehension  of  the  great  power 
and  majesty  of  the  Most  High.  His  father's  state- 
ment seemed  to  imply  a  double  profanation,  that  part 
which  concerned  the  wafer  being  equally  monstrous 
in  its  absurdity  as  blasphemous  in  its  impiety :  and  the 
whole  absolutely  irritated  him  against  Christianity  to 
a  degree  that  surprised  himself  He  recollected  hav- 
ing been  arrested  by  a  verse  addressed  to  Israel,  when 
turning  over  the  leaves  of  the  Bible,  which  he  thought 
bore  on  this  point :  and  locking  himself  up,  he  took 
out  the  book,  and  soon  found  it  in  Deuteronomy  iv. 
He  read  the  chapter  with  wonder  and  delight,  until 
coming  to  the  twenty-seventh  verse,  he  found,  "  And 
the  Lord  shall  scatter  you  among  the  nations,  and  ye 
shall  be  left  few  in  number  among  the  heathen, 
whither  the  Lord  shall  lead  you.  And  there  shall  ye 
serve  gods,  the  works  of  men's  hands,  wood  and  stone, 
which  neither  see,  nor  hear,  nor  eat,  nor  smell." 
Here  he  started  up,  and  exclaimed  aloud,  '  Never ! 
God  of  Abraham,  I  never  will.  Scattered  we  are, 
and  few  in  number  among  these  heathen,  but  never  ., 
will  I  be  guilty  of  such  a  vile  sin  !     Call  a  wafer  Je- 


50  judah's  lion. 

hovali,  and  bow  down  before  it !  Why  the  bare  idea 
is  enough  to  bring  a  judgment  upon  me.  What  fools 
these  Christians  are,  to  circulate  a  book  that  shows 
their  wickedness  in  such  a  strong  light.  Only  for  this 
book,  I  might  have  done  as  they  do.'  He  read  no 
farther,  but  carefully  restoring  the  volume  to  its  hiding- 
place,  he  lifted  up  his  hand  to  heaven,  and  solemnly 
repeated,  '  I  never  will !' 

Next  day  he  went  out,  with  a  young  military 
officer,  and  had  not  proceeded  far  when  they  descried 
a  procession  approaching,  more  showy  than  the  for- 
mer, with  a  richly-gilded  canopy  held  aloft.  '  Here 
comes  the  host,'  observed  the  officer :  '  now  we  must 
be  on  our  good  behaviour,  and  salute  it.' 

*  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  do,'  said  AHck. 

'  Pho,  you  must :  'tis  a  necessary  piece  of  civility 
that  everybody  shows.' 

'  I  am  a  Jew ;  and  I  will  not  disgrace  my  religion.' 

'And  I'm  a  staunch  Protestant,  and  ashamed  to 
yield,  I  confess:  but  really  we  must.  Or,  stay;  shall 
we  go  into  this  shop,  and  so  avoid  it  ?' 

'  You  may,'  replied  Alick,  quietly. 

The  young  man  misunderstood  him  ;  and  supposing 
he  would  follow,  immediately  turned  into  the  cigar- 
shop ;  and  to  be  further  out  of  the  way,  walked 
straight  on,  to  the  very  back:  while  Alick  coolly 
pursued  his  path  along  the  street,  and  met  the  pro- 
cession in  a  more  open  space.  Every  head  was  un- 
covered;  several  poor  people  knelt;  all  showed 
respect  to  the  idolatrous  abomination :  but  like  Mor- 
decai  in  the  presence  of  Haman,  young  Cohen  re- 
mained erect,  and  covered. 


51 

*  Take  off  your  hat !'  sliouted  the  people  who  had 
congregated  there,  some  in  EngHsh,  some  in  ItaUan, 
and  various  other  dialects.  '  You  had  better  take 
your  hat  off,'  whispered  a  gentleman  to  Alick,  in  a 
friendly,  persuasive  tone. 

'  You  had  better  put  yours  on,*  was  the  retort. 
Menaces  followed :  the  host  was  now  just  on  a  line 
w4th  him  ;  several  hands  were  raised,  and  one  brawny 
fellow  struck  the  hat  from  Alick' s  head,  who  catching 
and  instantly  replacing  it  with  his  left  hand,  at  the 
same  moment  knocked  the  assailant  down  with  his 
right,  who  fell  so  near  the  feet  of  a  torch-bearing  friar 
as  to  endanger  the  upset  both  of  himself  and  his 
flambeau.  Great  tumult  ensued:  and  Alick  was 
being  very  roughly  handled,  when  on  one  side,  the 
young  military  officer,  and  on  the  other  two  or  three 
of  his  late  shipmates,  ran  up,  and  with  the  help  of 
some  bystanders,  who  in  their  hearts  admired  the 
boy's  spirit,  succeeded  in  extricating  him  without 
further  violence.  He  had  however,  severely  sprained 
his  ancle,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  walk  back  to  his 
quarters,  where  Mr.  Cohen  slightly  reprimanded  his 
illiberal  conduct,  and  secretly  congratulated  himself 
on  being  the  father  of  such  a  fine  fellow,  who,  when 
a  little  sobered  down,  would  doubtless  shine  in  the 
world. 

Such  scenes  sometimes  occur  in  Malta,  and  other 
places  where,  while  naval  and  military  men  are  com- 
pelled either  to  violate  their  pledge  of  obedience  to 
earthly  powers  and  forfeit  their  commissions,  or  to 
transgress  the  law  of  God  by  an  act  of  idolatrous 
homage  to  an  accursed  thing, — a  private  Protestant 


52  JUDAH's   LION. 

is  occasionally  foiind  sufficiently  bold  in  the  faith  to 
defy  the  consequences  of  refusing  it.  But  this  was 
the  act  of  a  Jew:  and  it  spread  through  the  place 
with  numberless  additions. 

In  the  evening,  while  Alick  reclined  on  a  couch, 
for  the  repose  of  his  bandaged  ancle,  a  lofty  person- 
age entered,  whose  countenance  at  once  proclaimed 
his  nation,  while  his  picturesque  costume,  more  Asiatic 
than  European,  though  not  altogether  so,  and  the 
beard  that  with  jet  black  curls  almost  concealed  the 
lower  part  of  his  face,  struck  the  youth  with  mingled 
surprise  and  curiosity.  He  looked  round  for  a  moment, 
while  Mr.  Cohen  rose  with  his  accustomed  politeness, 
and  returned  his  courteous  salutation  ;  then  advanc- 
ing to  the  sofa,  he  said,  in  English,  but  with  a  very 
foreign  accent,  '  I  am  a  stranger  in  Malta ;  but  tell 
me,  is  this  stripling  the  son  of  Israel  who  dared  to 
brave  the  rage  of  assembled  Gentiles  rather  than 
humble  himself  before  their  idol  V 

*  Yes,  sir,'  answered  Alick.  *  I  know  no  God  but 
the  God  of  Abraham.' 

The  stately  Jew  spread  his  hands  over  his  head, 
pronounced  a  blessing  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  and  sat 
down  beside  him. 


m^ 


CHAPTER  V. 

It  has  already  been  noticed  that  Mr.  Cohen's  object 
in  AHck's  education,  was  to  fit  him  for  legislatorial 
and  other  functions  of  public  life,  where  national 
pecuHarities  would  be  laid  aside ;  or  rather  his  na- 
tionality as  a  Jew  altogether  merged  in  his  English 
citizenship.  The  general  state  of  those  among  whom 
they  principally  associated,  was  that  of  a  money-get- 
ting and  money-loving  race,  who  held  their  own  par- 
ticular religion  much  as  the  same  class  among  nomi- 
nal Christians  do,  that  is  to  say,  as  a  mere  accident — 
they  happened  to  be  born  in  such  a  communion,  just 
as  they  happened  to  be  born  when  periwigs  were  out 
of  date  ;  so  they  neither  wore  periwigs  nor  abandoned 
the  creed  of  their  fathers.  Taking  it  for  granted  that 
others  held  their  religious  profession  by  the  same  loose 
tenure,  they  were  perfectly  content  to  let  them  retain 
it ;  and  were  far  too  well-bred  to  make  it  a  matter  of 
animadversion ;  far  less  did  any  idea  of  building 
personal  objections  upon  it  enter  their  minds. 

The  only  instance  in  which  Mr.  Cohen  felt  as  a 
Jew,  w^as  in  reference  to  his  poor  brethren,  the  lower 
class  of  Hebrews  in  London ;  and  many  a  time  did 
he,  as  a  Jew,  address  them  in  language  of  warm  re- 
monstrance, and  speak  of  them  to  others  in  that  of 
severe   censure,   and  almost  downright  repudiation. 

5* 


54  judah's  lion. 

He  could  see  no  reason,  he  said,  why  a  people  of 
most  unquestionable  antiquity,  once  the  glory  and 
dread  of  the  whole  earth,  and  still  the  most  wealthy 
of  all,  should  forget  their  proper  position,  and  sub- 
mit to  be  classed  with  the  least  respectable  of  those 
among  whom  they  dwelt,  their  equals  or  inferiors. 
On  this  point  he  was  eloquent;  and  what  was  far 
more,  he  really  laboured  to  reclaim  some  with  whom 
his  business  brought  him  into  contact,  by  appealing  to 
what  he  supposed  to  be  their  strongest  feelings,  but  in 
vain.  Poor  Cohen  did  not  know,  he  would  not  search 
into  the  Book  and  read,  that  his  race  was  doomed  to 
this  fate ;  that  to  be  a  proverb,  a  by-word,  a  hissing, 
an  astonishment  among  the  nations,  was  the  penalty 
denounced  on  them  for  aggravated  transgressions, 
until  they  should  turn  again  to  the  Lord  who  smote 
them.  Sometimes  he  was  reminded  by  his  more  con- 
sistent brethren  that  their  people  were  scourged  for 
their  sins,  and  scattered  because  of  their  transgres- 
sions as  of  old :  but  this  he  regarded  as  a  mere  ex- 
cuse, unworthy  of  rational  beings  ;  and  persisted  in 
believing  that  an  effort  on  their  part  would  at  once 
raise  them  to  a  level  with  their  fellow-subjects  ;  *  and 
above  the  level,'  he  added :  '  for  half  the  ingenuity 
that  they  now  practise,  would,  if  properly  directed, 
soon  overstep  all  competitors,  and  give  them  the  lead 
in  every  department  of  honourable  industry.' 

Such  language  Alick  had  often  heard  from  his 
father's  lips  ;  and  that  he  did  not  immediately  forget 
it,  M-as  owing  to  Esther.  She  would  sit  in  profound 
silence,  her  head  bent  over  her  embroidery  or  paint- 
ing, to  conceal  from  her  imcle  the  vaiying  colour  of 


■0^' 


55 

her  cheek,  and  the  displeasure  that  her  frequent  frown 
betrayed  ;  then,  when  alone  with  Alick,  would  give 
vent  to  expressions  that  amused  him  greatly,  claiming 
such  high  honours  and  privileges  for  the  most  de- 
graded subject  of  Mr.  Cohen's  complaint,  that  the 
youth  would  say,  ^  Well,  Esther,  I  am  happy  in  being 
a  Jew,  or  you  would  not  allow  me  to  loll  in  my  chair 
in  your  august  presence.  If  all  trades  fail,  I  have 
only  to  mount  a  greasy  beard,  and  shoulder  an  old- 
clothes  bag,  and  then  instead  of  falling  I  shall  posi- 
tively rise  in  your  estimation.' 

It  had  never  yet  been  Alick' s  lot  to  meet  with  one 
among  his  own  people  who  took  the  view  that  Gor- 
don did  of  their  real  position  ;  but  there  was  some- 
thing in  his  secret  mind  that  responded  to  it.  He 
had  begun  to  think  that  Christianity — such  as  it 
appeared  in  Gordon — was  a  refined  and  elevated 
species  of  Judaism,  and  under  this  impression  he  was 
prepared  to  read  the  New  Testament  with  an  unpre- 
judiced, inquiring  mind :  but  the  view  that  he  had 
now  taken  of  a  system  that  falsely  usurps  the  name 
of  Christianity,  and  under  pretence  of  honouring  the 
Lord,  degrades  him  more  effectually  than  the  utmost 
blasphemies  of  an  open  enemy  can  do,  made  him 
recoil  as  from  the  brink  of  a  precipice  ;  while  the 
total  absence  of  sympathy  on  all  sides,  was  a  burden 
to  his  ingenuous  disposition. 

When  the  strange  visiter,  whose  aspect  very  much 
prepossessed  him,  had  made  some  kind  enquries  into 
the  extent  of  Alick' s  hurt,  he  returned  to  Mr.  Cohen, 
and  asked  after  the  welfare  of  their  bretliren  in 
England. 


56 

'  Nothing  material  has  occurred  among  them,'  re- 
pUed  Mr.  Cohen  :  ^  but  may  I  ask  how  long  it  is  since 
you  were  there  ?  ' 

*  Never :    I  have  not  been  in  England.* 

'  No  !  you  speak  the  language  well.' 

^  I  have  been  much  used  to  traffic  with  Europeans, 
and  learned  many  languages :  English  among  them.' 
Then  turning  to  Alick,  he  said,  '  Thou  hast  been  well 
taughtj  my  son,  in  the  law  of  our  holy  commandments, 
abhorring  the  idolater.      Cursed  be  he  !' 

Alick  heartily  assented ;  but  his  father  frowned. 
'  Where  he  has  been  taught  I  know  not :  no  such  les- 
son of  illiberality,  no  such  bigotry  and  intolerance,  can 
have  been  learned  under  my  roof  They  are  wholly 
subversive  of  good  citizenship,  and  can  only  tend  to 
bar  his  advancement' 

The  visiter  gazed  at  him  in  evident  perplexity  ;  but 
whether  the  sentiment  utterred  surprised  him,  or  the 
language  that  conveyed  it  baffled  his  limited  compre- 
hension, was  not  clear.  Before  any  further  remark 
could  be  made,  a  servant  entered  to  place  in  his  mas- 
ter's hand  a  card  inscribed  with  the  name  of  one 
whom  he  knew  to  be  a  convert,  and  a  zealous  mission- 
ary among  the  Jews,  and  Avho  requested  to  see  the 
young  gentleman. 

^  Show  him  in,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  in  any  tone  but 
that  of  satisfaction ;  and  then  muttered,  as  he  turned 
on  his  heel,  '  Upon  my  word,  this  boy's  iblly  will  bring 
upon  us  all  the  fanatics  in  Malta  !' 

The  missionary  entered,  and  with  that  frank  un- 
ceremonious manner  that  defies  repidse,  walked  up  to 


W' 


57 


the  couch,  saying  as  he  extended  his  hand,  ^  My  young 
friend,  you  have  done  well  to-day.' 

^  That,  sir,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  who  began  to  feel  that 
his  authority  was  likely  to  he  set  aside,  '  may  admit 
of  a  question.     I  consider  that  he  has  done  ill.' 

'  Are  you  his  father  V 

'  Yes,  I  am.' 

'  Are  you  a  Jew  V 

'  Yes.' 

'  What  is  WTitten  in  the  law  of  Moses,  concern- 
ing the  maker  of  an  image,  and  the  worshipper 
thereof?' 

•  A  great  deal,  no  doubt,  that  it  is  necessary  for  the 
teachers  of  the  law  to  be  well  acquainted  with  ;  but 
with  which  a  school-boy  has  nothing  to  do.' 

'  True,'  said  the  first  comer,  who  had  regarded  the 
missionary  from  his  entrance  with  an  unfriendly  eye, 
'  True  ;  for  it  is  written  in  the  Hilehoth  Talmud 
Torah,  ''  Women,  and  slaves,  and  children,  are  exempt 
from  the  study  of  the  law."  ' 

The  missionary  smiled,  and  laying  his  hand  on  the 
Jew's  shoulder,  said,  '  My  worthy  Josef  Ben-Meichor, 
you  with  your  Talmud  are  as  far  astray  from  the  law 
of  Moses  as  the  poor  Papist  with  his  wafer-god  is 
from  the  gospel  of  Christ.'  Then  addressing  Mr.  Co- 
hen, he  added,  '  Hear,  brother,  what  Jehovah  saith : 
^'  These  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day  shall 
be  in  thine  heart :  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently 
unto  thy  children,  and  thou  shalt  talk  of  them  when 
thou  sittest  in  thine  house,  and  when  thou  walkest  by 
the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou 
risest  up."    To  our  fathers  were  these  words  addressed, 


58 

and  our  fathers  heard,  and  obeyed,  and  it  was  well 
with  them.  But  after  a  while  they  forgat:  they 
ceased  to  treasure  in  their  hearts  the  commandment 
given ;  they  taught  it  no  longer  to  their  children, 
neither  spake  they  of  it  when  sitting  in  the  house,  or 
when  walkuig  hy  the  way  ;  when  lying  down  or  rising 
up.  The  word  was  put  away  from  their  remembrance, 
so  that  when  crafty  men  crept  into  Moses'  seat,  they 
found  it  easy  to  twist  and  corrupt  the  divine  law,  add- 
ing thereto  many  inventions  and  idle  devices  of  their 
own  until  they  had  actually  made  void  the  law  with 
their  traditions;  and  Rabbinical  corruptions  prevailed 
over  the  inspired  teaching  of  Moses  the  man  of  God. 
And  what  followed  ?  They  had  quenched  the  lamp 
of  their  feet,  the  written  word  was  set  aside,  and  when 
the  living  Word,  even  the  Bread  of  life,  even  the 
Lord  from  heaven,  came,  him  they  crucified  and  slew. 
Ay,  Josef  Ben-Melchor,  it  was  your  Talmud,  your 
oral  laws,  your  vain  superstitions  received  from  your 
fathers,  that  brought  on  our  people  blindness  of  heart, 
till  they  sinned  that  great  sin  which  caused  our  city 
to  be  destroyed,  and  the  sword  to  be  drawn  out  after 
us.  And  His  anger  is  not  turned  away,  but  His  hand 
is  stretched  forth  still!' 

The  missionary  spoke  with  the  look  and  action  of 
a  man  whose  heart  goes  along  with  every  word  he 
utters.  To  interrupt  would  have  been  nearly  impos- 
sible ;  it  was  a  burst  of  feeling  not  to  be  stayed  in  its 
course.  Mr.  Cohen  heard  impatiently.  Ali(k  with 
eager  attention,  and  Josef  with  ill  suppressed  rage. 
His  dark  eye  assumed  an  expression  of  fierce  displea- 
sure, his  brows  were  knit,  and  his  lip  trembled.  When 


^m 

.f^,' 


judah's  lion.  59 


the  missionary  concluded,  he  said,  in  a  deep  hoarse 
tone,  far  unlike  that  in  which  he  had  before  spoken, 
^  The  curse  of  the  wicked  be  upon  thee,  Dog !  Thou 
hast  sold  thyself  to  the  evil  one  ;  thou  hast  committed 
the  idolatry  that  this  young  boy's  spirit  could  not  suf- 
fer, and  therefore  he  is  wounded  and  sick.  Thou 
pratest  of  Moses,  blessed  be  he  !  and  the  Holy  One, 
to  whom  be  praise  !  while  a  crust  of  bread  is  thy  god, 
and  thy  honour  is  to  that  which  thou  eatest.  Away, 
Dog!' 

'  It  is  untrue,'  said  the  missionary  with  indignant 
warmth,  '  I  abhor  the  idolatrous  abomination,  and  I 
would  that  the  same  heart  were  in  us  all,  that  moved 
this  young  Israelite  to  scorn  the  deceitful  aspect  of  re- 
verence for  that  which  we  ahke  condemn.  You  call 
me  dog,  brother  Josef .' 

Here  Mr.  Cohen  gladly  availed  himself  of  the  ri- 
sing colour  in  his  son's  cheeks,  and  pointed  out  to  the 
disputants  what  he  termed  a  symptom  of  fever  ;  and 
then  he  civilly,  but  very  decisively,  requested  that 
they  would  adjourn  their  debate  to  some^place  where 
no  invalid  was  likely  to  occasion  such  an  interruption 
as  he  was  sorry  now  to  give.  Josef  rose,  and  again 
spread  his  hands  over  Alick,  pronouncing  another 
Hebrew  blessing,  to  which  the  missionary  in  the  same 
language  added  an  Amen.  He  had  not  been  seated : 
and  now,  standing  at  a  little  distance,  he  gazed  on 
the  youth  with  affectionate  interest  for  a  moment, 
then  raising  his  hands  and  eyes  prayed  that  he  might 
be  preserved  from  every  snare,  and  led  into  the  fold 
of  the  Shepherd  of  Israel,  there  to  rejoice  for  ever- 
more.    Ben-Melchor  the  while  was  speaking  in  a  low 


'^ 


60 

earnest  voice  to  Mr.  Cohen,  who  bowed  and  thanked 
him  with  cold  pohteness ;  and  stepping  to  the  door, 
after  touching  the  bell,  continued  to  bow  out  both  his 
guests,  on  whose  departure  he  flung  himself  into  a 
chair  exceedingly  irritated,  but  unwilhng  to  vent  it  on 
Alick;  who  after  a  short  pause,  said  '  Don't  be  un- 
easy about  me,  Papa:  I  assure  you  I  am  not  feverish 
in  the  least:  if  I  reddened,  it  was  from  an  incHnation 
to  laugh  at  hearing  how  our  new  friend  be-dogged 
the  other  gentleman.'  '  It  was  perfectly  disgusting, 
Alick,'  said  his  father :  ^  and  I  am  glad  you  view 
them  all  with  the  contempt  they  merit.  I  hope  too 
that  a  sense  of  the  impropriety  of  your  own  conduct 
may  be  awakened,  now  that  you  perceive  by  what 
class  of  men  it  is  applauded.  At  your  age,  a  lad  will 
sometimes  get  into  mischief,  and  signalize  himself  in 
a  row ;  but  never  let  it  be  on  the  score  of  religion : 
nothing  lowers  a  gentleman  so  much  in  the  eyes  of 
the  world.  Be  as  decided  as  you  please  in  your 
private  ophiions  on  such  matters,  but  keep  them  to 
yourself:  when  they  cease  to  be  private  you  lose  your 
caste  in  society,  and  are  numbered  with  bigots  and 
fools.' 

Alick  smiled  :  for  he  was  then  acting  such  a  part, 
though  not  exactly  in  the  way  his  father  meant  him 
to  do.  Every  thing  that  passed  added  to  his  anxiety 
for  a  full  insight  into  the  very  subject  that  he  was  ad- 
vised to  keep  clear  of:  and  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
to  discover  the  truth  for  the  purpose  of  openly  declar- 
ing and  maintaining  it.  '  Somebody  must  be  right,' 
thought  he,  '  and  all  the  rest  wrong.  If  ours  is  the 
true  reUgion, — and  that  I  am  sure  it  is, — we  ought 


jxidah's  LtoK  61 

not  to  be  the  most  oppressed  and  degraded  people  in 
the  world :  and  that  I'll  prove  by  and  by,  to  Jew  and 
Gentile.  If  dear  old  England  is  so  far  identified  with 
us  as  to  bear  our  Lion  in  her  arms,  and  to  favour  us 
as  she  does,  I'll  stir  up  the  English  to  help  us  in  re- 
covering our  own   land.     If,' ,  here   he  paused, 

and  became  agitated,  and  then  muttered  in  a  more 
hasty  way,  '  No,  no:  he  can't  have  come  :  our  Mes- 
siah put  to  death  by  the  Gentiles — impossible  !  and 
by  the  Jews,  more  impossible  still.  Some  devilish 
sort  of  craft  must  be  in  Gordon  and  that  missionary, 
to  conceal  and  deny  their  worship  of  the  wafer,  when 
this  young  fellow  told  me,  and  I  myself  saw,  that 
every  Christian  took  off  his  hat  to  it.  I  get  so  per- 
plexed when  I  think  of  the  Christians !  I'll  stick  to 
my  own  people,  and  read  the  Books  of  Moses  only. 
But  then  how  could  the  Jew  be  right,  who  said, 
^'  Women  and  children  and  slaves  should  not  study 
the  law  ?"  What  the  other  quoted  was  certainly  from 
the  Pentateuch,  for  I  remember  dipping  into  it.  How- 
ever, I'm  neither  woman,  child,  nor  slave,  and  study 
it  I  will,  for  I  never  feel  clear  on  any  of  those  points 
except  when  I'm  reading.  To-morrow  or  next  day  I 
will  try  to  find  out  the  missionary,  and  see  how  far  he 
and  Gordon  agree  :  and  also  what  he  knows  about  the 
Lion.' 

The  next  day,  however,  wholly  changed  Alick's 
plans :  Mr.  Cohen,  dreading  lest  the  notoriety  that  his 
protest  had  led  to  should  entangle  his  son  farther  in 
polemics,  went  privately  and  ascertained  that  a  light 
vessel  was  to  sail  on  the  morrow  for  Smyrna,  in  which, 
though  it  was  far  out  of  his  projected  route,  he  resolved 

6 


62  judah's  lion. 

to  proceed.  The  small  quantity  of  luggage  which  he 
resolved  to  take  from  on  board  ship,  was  easily  ob- 
tained ;  an  apology  tendered  to  and  accepted  by  the 
Captain,  who  was  on  shore  ;  and  Alick  to  his  great 
surprise,  learned  at  the  breakfast- table  that  they 
would  embark  at  noon.  The  glee  with  which  he 
received  the  tidings  pleased  his  father,  and  nothing 
interfered  with  their  respective  wishes,  until  they  were 
fairly  settled  in  the  new  berth.  The  vessel  was 
small,  and  presented,  to  be  sure,  a  marked  contrast  to 
the  noble  ship  of  war ;  the  only  good  cabin  was  occu- 
pied by  a  lady,  who,  the  master  informed  them,  was 
European  ;  and  their  sleeping  accommodations  were 
exceedingly  bad.  This  gave  little  concern  to  either 
of  the  Cohens,  the  elder  being  intent  on  his  son's 
rescue  ;  and  the  younger  bent  on  experiencing  all 
possible  variety  of  adventures,  of  which  this  little 
bark,  with  its  motley  crew,  promised  him  a  good  speci- 
men. In  Malta  he  had  no  wish  to  remain,  being  fully 
determined  to  make  no  concession  whatever  to  idola- 
try, and  yet  unwiUing  to  vex  his  father  as  he  must 
needs  do. 

All  was  ready,  sails  set,  the  anchor  weighed,  and 
the  vessel  beginning  to  work  her  way,  when  she  was 
hailed  to  take  in  another  passenger,  who  presently 
arrived  in  a  boat,  and  after  short  parley,  in  Italian, 
mounted  the  deck.  Great  was  Mr.  Cohen's  dismay 
at  scrutinizing  at  once  the  voice  and  the  features  of 
Josef  Ben-Melchor :  but  at  the  same  time  a  qualmish 
feeling  came  over  him,  occasioned  by  the  motion  of 
the  vessel,  which  contrived  to  roll  unsteadily  even  on 
the  smooth  surface  of  that  beautiful  sea  ;  and  he  was 


63 

glad  to  retire  to  his  narrow  berth,  leaving  Alick  to 
receive  and  return  the  cordial  greeting  of  the  Jew. 

On  the  first  day  of  their  voyage,  nothing  material 
passed  :  each  was  fully  occupied  in  contriving  to  make 
himself  tolerably  comfortable :  and  Alick  soon  ascer- 
tained that  to  bouviac  on  deck  would  be  infinitely 
preferable  to  any  other  mode  of  taking  rest.  The 
lady  did  not  show  herself,  though  he  directed  sundry 
inquisitive  looks  towards  her  little  cabin,  as  he  passed 
it  to  visit  his  father :  but  early  the  next  morning  it  was 
ajar,  and  a  round  face,  adorned  with  short  close 
auburn  curls,  and  two  very  bright  hazle  eyes,  peeped 
out  upon  him.  Alick  was  fond  of  children :  he  had  a 
little  brother  at  home,  and  with  involuntary  eager- 
ness at  the  sight  of  such  a  pretty  playmate  he  said, 
'  Will  you  come  on  deck  V 

The  rosy  face  disappeared:  he  supposed  it  was 
from  alarm  at  hearing  a  strange  language :  but  be- 
fore he  could  leave  the  spot,  he  was  delighted  by  the 
sound  of  a  lusty  little  voice  shouting  out,  '  Mamma, 
may  I  go  on  deck?' 

'  With  whom,  my  love  V  returned  a  very  pleasing 
female  voice. 

'  With  me,  ma'am,'  said  Alick,  putting  his  mouth 
close  to  the  door  ;  '  an  English  traveller :  and  I'll 
take  good  care  of  him.' 

There  was  a  momentary  bustle  inside,  and  then  the 
door  half  opened,  and  a  lady  appeared,  clad  in  a 
wrapping-gown  and  morning  cap,  her  hair  combed 
back  from  a  very  fine,  open  brow,  and  with  much  good 
humour  depicted  on  a  very  fair  countenance.  On 
seeing  Alick,  she  smiled,  and  remarked,  '  My  little 


64 

boy  ir^fefy  giddy :  will  it  not  tax  your  kindness  too  far 
to  take  such  care  of  him  as  he  requires  V 

'  Oh,  no,  ma'am :  I  am  quite  a  nursery-maid,  I  as- 
sure you,  and  celebrated  for  taking  care  of  such  people 
as  my  little  friend  there.  I  promise  you  to  bring  him 
back  perfectly  safe.' 

*  The  Lord  permitting,'  added  the  Lady,  with  a 
more  serious  look.  '  Well,  Charley,  since  the  young 
gentleman  is  so  kind,  you  shall  go  :  but  be  very  heed- 
ful— don't  leave  him  for  a  moment'  She  kissed  the 
little  fellow — ejaculating,  '  God  preserve  my  dear 
boy !'  and  then  holding  out  her  hand  to  Alick,  thanked 
him,  and  closed  the  door. 

His  prize  was  soon  carried  on  deck :  and  Alick  be- 
gan, ^  So  Charley,  you're  an  Englishman,  after  all.' 

*  No,  I  ain't :  I'm  an  Irishman.' 

*  Oh,  its  the  same  thing:  where  do  you  come  from?' 
^  Out  of  Ireland,  and  Malta,  and  Alexandria,  and 

London,  and  all  sorts  of  places.     Papa  is  out  there, 
where 

*  The  Cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.' 

He  sang,  or  rather  chaunted  the  two  lines,  and 
Alick  felt  such  a  rush  of  emotion  through  his  frame 
as  he  could  not  account  for.  He  pressed  the  child  to 
his  side,  and  asked,  ^  What  is  Papa  doing  ?' 

'  He  is  looking  after  the  Jews — do  you  love  the 
Jews?' 

'  Yes.' 

'  I'm  glad  of  that.     Do  you  know  any  Jews?' 

<  Oh,  lots  and  lots.' 


judah's  lion.  65 

'  Do  you  ever  tell  them  about  the  Messiah,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  V 

Alick  was  silent :  and  the  little  boy  seizing  him  by 
the  button  on  each  side  his  jacket,  pulled  him  to  and 
fro,  saying,  '  Do  you?  Do  you?  And  if  you  don't, 
why  don't  you?' 

Alick  was  really  confused  :  but  at  last  said,  "  I  am 
a  Jew  myself,  and  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  Jesus 
Christ.' 

The  boy  loosed  his  hold,  stepped  back  a  pace,  and 
with  a  look  full  of  sorrow  and  rebuke  said,  '  Then 
you  will  never  go  to  heaven.' 

A  movement  of  the  vessel  made  him  stagger,  and 
Alick  catching  him,  set  him  on  his  knee,  and  half 
provoked,  said,  '  How  do  you  know  that  ?  what  busi- 
ness have  you  to  shut  me  out  of  heaven?' 

'  I  can't,  for  I  haven't  got  the  key ;  but  Jesus  Christ 
has :   and  it  is  he  will  let  you  in,  or  shut  you  out.' 

*  That  is  not  true,  Charley  :   God  has  the  key.* 
'  I  know  it ;  and  Jesus  is  God.' 

The  young  Jew  shuddered  as  he  looked  at  the  little 
blasphemer,  as  he  considered  him :  but  Charley's  arm 
was  round  his  neck,  and  his  bright  face  turned  to  him 
with  so  much  love,  that  he  could  not  help  stroking  it 
as  he  said,  '  My  httle  lad,  you  are  too  young  to  med- 
dle with  these  things  yet.' 

*  Am  I  too  young  to  die,  Mr.  Jew  V 
'  Why,  no.' 

'  And  if  I  die,  mustn't  I  wish  to  go  to  heaven?  and 
how  can  I  get  in  without  knowing  who  keeps  the  key, 
that  I  may  ask  him  to  open  the  door  ?' 


66 

'  Well,  I  don't  believe  that  he  of  whom  you  talk  is 
in  heaven  at  all.' 

'  Don't  youj  don't  you?  Oh  dear!  I  wish  I  had 
my  Testament  here  :   I'd  soon  show  you.' 

'  Can  you  read?' 

'  Read !  why  I'm  near  six  :  I  could  read  at  four.' 

«Well,  Charley,  I'U  try  you.  Here's  a  Bible,' 
cautiously  drawing  it  forth  from  his  breast-pocket, 
'  and  now  read  me  something  to  prove  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  in  heaven,' 

Charley  tumbled  the  leaves  over  in  great  haste,-and 
came  to  the  book  of  Revelation,  when  he  read  the 
sublime  words  in  the  first  chapter ;  "  And  he  laid  his 
right  hand  on  me,  saying,  Fear  not,  I  am  he  that  hveth 
and  was  dead,  and  beliold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore, 
and  have  the  keys  of  death  and  of  hell.  Amert' " 
Then  turning  to  the  fifth  chapter,  he  went  on, — ^  and 
look  here,  Mr.  Jew,  what  a  beautiful  thing  is  here : 
"  And  I  wept  much  because  no  man  was  found  worthy 
to  open  and  to  read  the  book,  neither  to  look  there- 
on. And  one  of  the  Elders  said  unto  me.  Weep  not ; 
Behold,  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  the  root  of 
David,  hath  prevailed  to  open  the  book,  and  to  loos^ 
the  seven  seals  thereof     And  I  beheld,  and  lo,  in  the 

midst  of  the  throne,"  ' At  this  moment  Alick,  who 

with  breathless  eagerness  was  listening  to  words  so 
unexpectedly  startling  to  him,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
Ben-Melchor,  and  shutting  the  book,  thrust  it  into  his 
bosom  again,  saying,  '  Hush,  hush,  dear  Charley,  for 
the  present.  We  will  read  all  the  rest  by  and  by: 
say  nothing  more  now:  and  don't  call  me  Mr.  Jew, 


67 

but  Alick  Cohen.     Not  that  I'm  ashamed  of  being  a 
Jew.' 

'  How  would  any  body  be  ashamed  of  being  one  of 
God's  own  dear  Israel?'  said  Charley,  with  surprise. 
Alick  kissed  him,  and  again  enjoined  silence.  He 
heartily  wished  Josef  in  Malta,  but  received  his  greet- 
ing very  courteously,  and  gave  a  good  report  of  his 
ancle,  after  which  the  Jew  kindly  enquired,  with  some 
severe  reflections  on  the  Christian  idolators,  who  in- 
flicted the  injury.  Charley  seemed  disposed  to 
speak  ;  but  another  ship  passing,  Alick  directed  his 
attention  to  it,  and  after  a  little  more  talk  with  the 
prejudiced  Ben-Melchor,  he  carried  Charley  back  to 
his  mother,  and  promised  to  call  for  him  again  in  the 
afternoon. 

Nothing  had  ever  before  so  touched  him  as  this 
little  child's  conversation.  The  youth  of  his  teacher 
threw  him  completely  ofi*  his  guard :  and  he  longed 
to  read  the  Bible  with  him :  to  see  that  little,  dim- 
pled finger  pointing  along  the  lines  as  he  read,  and 
resting  under  words  that  most  forcibly  conveyed  his 
meaning :  to  hear  the  lisping  tongue  confessing  and 
glorifying  Him  who  had  been  referred  to  by  the  Gun- 
ner, and  now  seemed  clearly  set  forth  as  the  Lion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah.  Alick's  heart  was  deeply  engaged  ' 
in  the  work :  and  without  being  aware  of  it  himself, 
he  was  following  on  to  know  the  Lord.  ,^ 


CHAPTER  VI. 

When  the  hour  arrived  for  again  summoning 
Charley  on  deck,  AHck  Cohen  felt  a  little  shy  of  ap- 
proaching the  cabin  door ;  anticipating  from  the  mo- 
ther something  in  the  way  of  instruction,  which  he  was 
better  inclined  to  seek,  or  rather  to  accept,  from  the 
child.  In  this  way  he  was  mistaken  :  Mrs.  Ryan  was 
gifted  with  that  rare  wisdom  which  can  discriminate 
in  the  matter  of  spiritual  teaching,  and  rightly  judge 
what  particular  mode  will  best  suit  the  character  of 
the  individual.  She  had  listened  with  wonder  and  de- 
light to  Charley's  relation  of  what  had  passed,  ending 
with  the  discovery  made  by  the  shrewd  little  fellow 
from  Ben-Melchor's  conversation,  that  Alick  was  the 
bold  protester  whose  Maltese  adventure  was  already 
well  known.  From  the  latter  circumstance  she  rightly 
gathered  that  young  Cohen  was  of  a  manly,  deter- 
mined, and  very  independent  turn  ;  and  that  he  would 
probably  not  relish  the  idea  of  female  dictation.  Ac- 
cordingly she  resolved  to  leave  the  matter  as  it  stood, 
earnestly  praying  that  her  little  son  might  be  made  a 
partaker  in  the  blessedness  of  conveying  a  blessing  to 
one  of  God's  peculiar  people. 

She  could  not,  however,  conceal  from  Alick  the 
affectionate  interest  thus  excited  in  her  mind  ;  there 
was  a  cordiality  of  manner  so  marked,  a  tenderness 


judah's  lion,  69 

so  maternal  in  tlie  look  with  which  she  regarded  him, 
when  he  presented  himself  at  the  door,  which  Charley 
flung  wide  open  at  his  first  approach,  that  Alick,  who 
had  been  much  petted  at  home,  could  not  resist  its 
influence.  With  the  frankness  of  a  school-boy,  and 
the  politeness  of  a  gentleman,  he  said,  "  Will  you 
allow  me  the  pleasure,  ma'am,  of  escorting  you  also 
on  deck?  you  would  find  it  refreshing,  and  perfectly 
safe.  Besides,  we  are  likely  to  come  within  view 
of  Cape  Matapan  before  night,  and  you  will  like  to 
take  a  look  at  the  southernmost  point  of  Europe,  I 
dare  say.' 

'  Thank  you,  Mr.  Cohen ;  but  this  evening  I  must 
devote  to  finishing  some  papers  that  my  dear  husband 
wished  me  to  transcribe.  To-morrow,  if  I  may  then 
plead  your  present  kind  willingness  to  take  charge  of 
us  both,  I  shall  greatly  enjoy  going  on  deck.' 

'  Could  I  be  of  any  use  to  you,  ma'am,  in  the  wri- 
ting way  ?  I  am  terribly  idle  ;  and  it  really  is  a  cha- 
ritable act  to  give  me  something  to  do.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  smiled :  ^  Come  in,  and  I  will  tax  your 
ingenuity  to  help  me  out  of  a  dilemma.' 

With  great  alacrity  Alick  obeyed ;  and  she  showed 
him  her  writing-desk,  completely  set  fast  by  the 
wrenching  of  a  hinge,  so  that  she  could  not  open  it 
beyond  a  few  inches.  '  Oh,  carpentering  is  as  great 
a  hobby  to  me  as  nursing  :  so,  Charley,  just  reach  me 
me  that  chisel.'  The  desk  was  righted  in  a  very 
short  time,  and  the  amateur  carpenter  seated  himself, 
saying,  ^  Now,  ma'am,  by  way  of  a  remuneration,  will 
you  be  pleased  to  tell  me  something  I  am  very  curious 
to  know.' 


70  JUDAH^S   LION. 

'  Surely :  that  is,  if  I  am  better  informed  myself 
'  Why,  then,  I  happened  to  get  a  peep  just  now 
into  the  captain's  cabin  ;  and  there,  to  my  surprise,  I 
saw  what  my  friend  Charley  would  call  an  ugly  over- 
dressed little  doll,  with  a  lamp  before  it,  though  the 
sun  shone  brightly  on  its  tinselled  petticoats.  Now, 
as  I  know  there  are  no  children  on  board  except  this 
young  gentleman,  I  am  puzzled ;  and  half  afraid  we 
are  under  the  command  of  a  person  not  right  in  his 
mind.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  coloured  very  deeply,  and  before  she 
could  speak,  Charley  cried  out,  '  Oh,  that  ugly  doll  is 
the  Virgin  Mary.' 

*  Hush,  hush,  my  love,  not  so  loud,'  said  his  mo- 
ther. *  Unhappily,  Mr.  Cohen,  your  surmise  is  so 
far  correct  that  the  captain,  and  probably  all  his  crew, 
are  possessed  with  the  spiritual  madness  of  idol-wor- 
ship.    Did  you  not  see  something  of  it  in  Malta.' 

'  Yes,  but  not  like  this,*  replied  Alick,  his  counte- 
nance becoming  overcast  as  his  recent  perplexities 
about  Christianity  suddenly  recurred  to  mind.  *  I 
was  knocked  down  in  Malta  the  other  day  for  not 
taking  off  my  hat  to  a  bit  of  biscuit ;  and  if  they  re- 
quire me  to  show  any  respect  to  the  doll,  I  am  in 
a  fair  way  of  being  knocked  overboard  ;  for  do  it  I 
won't.' 

Charley  laughed,  and  rubbing  his  hands :  '  That's 
right,  Mr.  Alfred;  we  are  Protestant  boys,  ain't  we 
mamma  V 

Say  Alick,  not  Alfred,  my  lad :  or  I  shall  suffer 
martyrdom  under  a  wrong  name.' 

Mrs.  Ryan   looked   sad :  ^  Martyrdom   has   indeed 


JUD All's    LION.  71 

been  the  lot  of  many  and  many  a  one  who,  hke  you^ 
protested  against  these  fearful  idolatries  ;  but  who 
shall  find  grace  to  be  a  martyr  in  the  spirit  of  Him 
through  whom  alone  we  can  conquer  not  only  the  fear 
of  temporal,  but  the  powder  of  eternal  death  V 

'  Well,  ma'am,  at  any  rate  I  am  glad  we  agree  in 
detesting  these  things.  Now,  shall  I  take  Charley 
on  deck  1  remembering  that  you  are  to  be  of  our  party 
to-morrow/ 

After  many  thanks,  he  was  allowed  to  depart,  and 
Charley,  who  seemed  in  riotous  spirits,  amused  him 
so  much  that  he  soon  forgot  his  vexation,  for  such  it 
really  was.  He  exceedingly  liked  Mrs.  Ryan,  and 
wished  to  be  sociable  ;  but  this  idol- worship  among 
Christians  was  a  continual  check  on  his  warm  feel- 
ings. He  hated  it  with  a  Jewish  hatred,  grounded 
on  his  apprehension  of  the  divine  Being,  as  set  forth 
in  the  writings  of  Moses  ;  and  he  could  not  believe 
that  two  parties  professing  the  same  faith,  really  dif- 
fered so  irreconcileably  on  the  most  vital  point  as  he 
found  the  Romanists  and  Protestants  seemed  to  do. 
He  resolved  to  pump  Charley  to  the  utmost ;  but  the 
little  boy,  like  all  children,  had  his  frolicsome  moods  ; 
but  what  with  his  droll  remarks,  enriched  by  a  pretty 
brogue,  his  innocent  questions  about  all  that  he  saw, 
and  the  romping  play  that  required  no  small  atten- 
tion to  keep  him  from  danger,  he  put  any  serious  dis- 
course out  of  the  question.  Alick,  too,  was  both  boy- 
ish and  light-hearted  ;  so  the  whole  time  would  have 
been  lost,  had  not  the  appearance  of  Josef  Ben-Mel- 
chor  with  his  face  turned  towards  Jerusalem,  and 


72 

evidently  praying  in  that  direction,  recalled  the  old 
train  of  thought  too  forcibly  to  be  repressed. 

'  Charley,  Charley,'  cried  Alick,  as  the  Jew  moved 
off,  '  come  here  ;  be  quiet,  do,  for  a  moment,  and  tell 
me  again  those  two  lines  you  repeated  in  the  morning.' 

«  What  two  hues  ?' 

*  About  the  cedars  waving  on  Lebanon.' 

The  right  chord  was  touched  ;  Charley  sprang  on 
his  knee,  threw  his  arm,  as  before,  round  his  neck, 
and  shaking  his  head  from  side  to  side,  as  he  sorrow- 
fully looked  in  his  friend's  face,  slowly  chanted 

'  The  Cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.* 

*  Where  did  you  learn  that,  Charley  ?' 

*  I'll  tell  you.  There  was  a  meeting  for  the  Jews, 
you  know,  in  Cork,  and  so  we  went  to  it.  Papa  was 
making  a  speech,  and  he  said  those  lines,  and  some 
more  to  them ;  and  some  ladies  cried  ;  and  I  thought 
them  so  pretty,  I  asked  papa  to  teach  them  to  me.  I 
was  but  a  little  thing  then,'  added  Charley,  with  an 
important  look,  '  and  didn't  know  much :  so  papa 
talked  a  deal  to  me  about  the  Jews ;  and  ever  since 
I  have  been  studying,  that  I  might  be  a  missionary  to 
the  poor  dear  Jews.' 

'  And  how  long  ago  was  that,  Mr.  Missionary  ?' 

*  A  great  long  time ;  almost  a  year.  Papa  and 
mamma  were  abroad  before  that ;  and  now  they  are 
abroad  again,  and  I  too.' 

'  Is  your  papa  a  clergyman  V 

'  Oh,  no  ;  he  is  a  half-pay  officer.' 

*  How  odd !'  thought  Alick.  ^  Here's  an  officer  go- 
ing out  to  look  after  us,  and  a  six-year  old,  by  way  of 


73 

a  missionary,  to  preach  to  us.     Well,  Charley,  can 
you  repeat  any  more  lines  V 

'  Not  all.  Mamma  says  a  bad  man  wrote  them, 
and  she  would  rather  I  learned  a  hymn :  but  I'll  tell 
you  the  last  verse — it  is  so  sad,  and  so  pretty  !'  And 
then  with  a  wild  sort  of  pathos  he  recited  it : — 

*  But  we  must  wander  witheringly, 

In  other  lands  to  die ; 
And  where  our  fathers'  ashes  be 

Our  own  must  never  lie ; 
Our  temple  hath  not  left  a  stone ; 
And  mockery  stands  on  Salem's  throne !' 

*  Pho !  pho!'  said  Alick,  hastily  turning  his  head 
away,  as  if  to  deny  to  himself  that  the  tear  which 
was  ready  to  start  could  have  been  called  up  by  a  few 
lines  of  poetry  repeated  by  a  child. 

'  Why  then,  Mr.  Alick,  its  a  shame  of  you  to  say 
pho !  pho !  and  you  a  Jew.  Ah  !  but  it's  all  truth, 
for  the  Lord  Jesus  said  they  would  not  leave  one  stone 
upon  another  in  the  temple  that  shouldn't  be  thrown 
down ;  and  down  they  all  came  ;  and  Jerusalem, — • 
and— and — oh,  the  wicked  cruel  Turks  do  mock  the 
poor  Jews,  when  they  go  on  a  Friday  to  sit  and  weep 
under  a  broken  bit  of  the  old  wall :  so  that's  mockery 
on  Salem's  throne,  isn't  it  V 

'  What  fairy-tale  have  you  been  reading  V 

'  I  never  read  fairy-tales  :  the  poor  Papists  at  home 
believe  in  fairies,  but  I  know  better.' 

'  Perhaps  the  Captain's  doll  is  a  fairy,  Charles?' 

^  No,  it's  the  Virgin  Mary — they  call  her  the  mother 
of  God.' 

'  They  he  1'  exclaimed  Ahck,  vehemently. 

7 


74 

^  So  they  do  :  she  wasn't  the  mother  of  God,  how 
could  she  be  ?  she  was  the  mother  of  Jesus.' 

*  Yet  you  said  in  the  morning  that  Jesus  was  God.' 

'  He  is  God,  and  he  is  man,'  said  Charles,  firmly : 
*  and  Mary  was  his  mother  when  he  was  made  man  : 
but  as  God,  he  could  not  have  a  mother.' 

'  Well,  I  do  wonder  to  hear  such  a  slip  of  a  boy 
talk  like  an  old  bishop  in  a  wig.' 

'I  was  taught  it,  Mr.  Alick,  as  soon  as  I  could 
think  at  all ;  for,  you  see,  there's  lots  of  Popery  at  our 
place,  near  Cork ;  and  papa  and  mamma  always  talk 
to  the  poor  people  about  their  foolish  religion  ;  so  I 
heard  it  every  day  almost,  and  I  must  be  stupid  in- 
deed not  to  know  it  before  now.' 

Here  there  was  a  pause.  Charley  had  become  as 
grave  and  as  intellectual  looking  as  ever,  and  seemed 
perfectly  ready  for  any  discussion  ;  but  Alick  knew 
not  what  to  say  to  him.  All  on  a  sudden  he  saw  his 
father's  head  emerging  from  below,  as  he  slowly  as- 
cended the  ladder  ;  so  after  an  exclamation  of  surprise, 
he  whispered  to  Charley,  in  a  very  decided  tone, 
'  Now  don't  say  one  single  word  about  any  of  these 
things  before  that  gentleman — my  father — or  you  will 
make  him  very  angry  ;  and  then  perhaps  I  shan't 
play  with  you  any  more.' 

Wondering,  and  half  frightened,  the  little  boy  looked 
up,  expecting  to  see  a  very  alarming  person ;  but  Mr. 
Cohen,  delighted  to  find  his  son  in  such  safe  company, 
smiled  on  him,  patted  his  head,  and  began  to  talk 
very  pleasantly  to  him,  while  Alick  admired  his  dis- 
creet rephes,  when  questioned  about  his  parents,  his 


judah's  lion.  7^' 

destination,  and  so  forth.     ^  We  must  show  some  at- 
tention to  his  mother,'  said  Mr.  Cohen. 

AHck  assented ;  related  the  adventure  of  the  desk, 
and  then  led  to  other  topics. 

When  night  closed,  and  he  was  alone,  on  his  tem- 
porary couch,  looking  up  to  the  cloudless  sky  with  its 
myriad  lamps,  he  recalled  the  events  of  the  day,  and 
regretted  the  unsatisfactory  close  of  his  conversations 
with  little  Charley.  He  thought  again  and  again  of 
the  sealed  book,  that  none  could  open  hut  the  Lion 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah  ;  and  heartily  did  he  wish  for 
the  lamp  that  was  so  idly  flaming  before  the  Cap- 
tain's idol.  Suddenly,  he  recollected  that  the  strict 
rules  of  a  man-of-war  did  not  apply  to  such  vessels  as 
the  one  he  was  in ;  and  going  to  the  helmsman  he 
inquired  in  Italian,  if  he  might  have  the  use  of  a  light. 
He  was  directed  where  to  find  a  lantern,  and  securing 
it  to  the  ship's  side  against  which  he  lay,  he  opened 
at  the  book  of  Revelation,  and  read  the  first  Rve 
chapters ;  than  which  the  whole  Bible  does  not  con- 
tain a  more  awakening,  encouraging,  instructive  por- 
tion. Its  unmeasured  sublimity  enraptured  him  :  he 
did  not,  he  would  not  admit  it  as  of  divine  authority, 
and  had  the  book  been  his  own,  he  would  gladly  have 
it  torn  from  between  the  covers  that  enclosed  the 
writings  of  Moses  and  the  Prophets ;  but  though  the 
word,  not  being  mixed  with  faith,  did  not  then  profit 
him  savingly,  it  impressed  him  more  than  any  thing 
he  had  ever  before  read.  He  was  much  struck  by  the 
expression,  "  He  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true  ;  he  that 
hath  the  key  of  David  ;  he  that  openeth,  and  no  man 
shutteth;  and  shutteth,   and  no  man  openeth."     It 


76  judah's  lion. 

was  evident  to  Alick  that  this  passage  fully  sanctioned 
little  Charley's  doctrine  of  the  key  of  heaven,  even 
more  than  the  text  the  child  had  referred  to  in  the 
first  chapter.  The  very  wrong  translation  into 
*'  beasts  "  in  the  fourth  chapter,  of  what  should  be 
rendered  "  living  creatures,"  perplexed  him  ;  but  the 
fifth  almost  conquered  his  unbelief,  so  strongly  did  he 
feel  impelled  to  join  in  the  ascription  of  praise  to  "  the 
Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,"  the  "  Lamb  as  it  had 
been  slain."  Again  and  again  he  read  that  chapter; 
then,  pressing  the  closed  book  to  his  forehead  as  he 
laid  himself  down,  he  mentally  said,  ^  If  I  could  fan- 
cy, like  Gordon,  that  all  these  things  are  true,  and 
that  they  concerned  me,  how  little  should  I  care 
which  way  the  world  went  with  me  !  If,  like  Char- 
ley, I  was  sure  that  I  had  a  friend  in  him  who  keeps 
the  key  to  all  these  glorious  sights  and  sounds,  it 
would  be  a  small  matter  by  what  sort  of  a  road  I  was 
proceeding  towards  such  a  home.  Well ;  every  part 
of  this  book  that  I  have  read  lulls  me  like  soft  nmsic ; 
and  I'll  read  it  oftener,  particularly  at  night'  He 
soon  slept,  and  his  first  waking  thought  was  of  the 
promised  visit  of  Mrs.  Ryan  on  deck. 

Mr.  Cohen  felt  unwell ;  the  sea  never  agreed  with 
him — and  Alick  had  his  friends  to  himself  He  found 
the  lady  had  been  a  traveller,  as  Charley  had  told 
him  before  ;  and  in  that  quarter  too ;  and  from  her 
he  gained  a  good  deal  of  information  respecting  the 
places  he  was  about  to  visit.  At  length,  Jerusalem 
was  named,  and  he  inquired  whether  she  had  been 
there. 

'  I   have   not ;    but   my   husband  has  twice,  1  do 


JUDAH*S   LION.  77 

humbly  hope  in  the  spirit  of  his  blessed  Master,  "  be- 
held the  city,  and  wept  over  it."  Jerusalem  is  indeed 
a  desolation,  and  Zion  trodden  under  foot.' 

'  Pardon  me,  but  may  I  ask  to  whom  you  alluded 
as  being  Captain  Ryan's  master?  ' 

The  lady  and  her  child  both  answered  in  the  same 
breath,  ^  Jesus  Christ.' 

^  Did  he  weep  over  Jerusalem  ?  why  ?  surely  it  was 
not  desolate  in  his  time.' 

Here  was  a  leading  question  from  a  Jew  !  Mrs. 
Ryan  closed  her  eyes,  and  her  lip  moved  in  secret 
prayer ;  but  before  she  could  speak,  Charley  thrust 
his  hand  into  the  little  pocket  of  his  stuff  frock-coat, 
and  with  great  bustle  drew  out  a  small  Testament, 
saying,  ^  I'll  show  you  why  he  wept,  and  what  he 
said.' 

'  What  is  that  little  book?' 

'  The  New  Testament :  it's  the  same  you  have  got 
in  your  Bible.' 

'  They  ought  never  to  be  separate,'  observed  Mrs. 
Ryan  ;  while  Alick,  in  his  heart,  thought  they  should 
never  have  been  joined  together.  Charley  soon  found 
the  words  his  mother  had  referred  to,  "  And  when  he 
was  come  near,  he  beheld  the  city  and  wept  over  it. 
saying,  If  thou  hadst  known,  even  thou,  at  least  in  this 
thy  day,  the  things  which  belong  unto  thy  peace  !  but 
now  they  are  hid  from  thine  eyes.  For  the  days  shall 
come  upon  thee  that  thine  enemies  shall  cast  a  trench 
about  thee,  and  compass  thee  in  on  every  side,  and 
shall  lay  thee  even  with  the  ground,  and  thy  children 
within  thee ;  and  they  shall  not  leave  in   thee   one 

7* 


78 


JUD All's    LION. 


stone  upon  another ;  because  thou  knewest  not  the 
time  of  thy  visitation  " 

AHck  had  spontaneously  taken  the  httle  fellow  on 
his  knee,  as  soon  as  he  opened  the  book ;  and  while 
Charley  read  aloud  and  pointed  as  usual,  along  the 
lines,  he  closely  marked  every  letter  of  every  word. 
Mrs.  Ryan  gazed  on  them,  as  well  she  might ;  for  it 
was  a  lovely  spectacle.  The  child's  soft,  rosy  cheek 
almost  rested  on  the  dark  clear  olive  of  his  com- 
panion's :  the  golden  locks  shone  as  they  mingled 
with  Alick's  raven  clusters  ;  and  when,  at  the  close 
of  the  passage,  Charley  raised  his  eyes,  of  the  mildest 
hazel,  yet  remarkably  strong  and  bold  in  their  expres- 
sion, to  meet  the  keen,  eagle-gaze  of  the  young  Jew, 
whose  jet  black  eyes  sparkled  with  eagerness  to  gather 
all  the  information  his  little  teacher  could  impart,  her 
heart  yearned  over  them,  and  she  inwardly  pleaded 
with  the  King  of  the  Jews  that  immutable  word,  re- 
specting his  loved,  but  wandering  Israel,  "  Even  so 
have  these  also  now  not  believed,  that  through  your 
mercy  they  also  may  obtain  mercy."  She  recalled 
the  hour  when  the  little  one,  resting  on  his  father's 
knee,  had  made  his  first  request  to  be  brought  up,  '  a 
Missionary  to  the  Jews :'  she  remembered  that  to 
deepen  the  feelings  of  his  young  heart  towards  Israel, 
they  had  decided  on  making  him  the  companion  of 
their  present  voluntary  labour  in  that  glorious  cause  : 
and  she  owned,  in  the  depth  of  a  grateful  heart,  that 
her  babe  was  at  that  moment  exercising  the  office  to 
which  they  had  looked  forward  on  his  behalf  through 
a  long  vista  of  years. 

^You  see,   Mr.    Alick,'   said    Charley,   "what   the 


JUDAHS    LION.  79 

Lord  said :  and  that  was  ever  so  many  years  before 
the  wicked  Romans  destroyed  Jerusalem,  and  every 
word  came  true.' 

'  It  certainly  did,'  answered  Alick :  '  and  if  really 
spoken  before  the  event,  it  was  a  remarkable  pro- 
phecy. But  now,  Charley,  I'll  puzzle  you.  You  told 
me  this  Jesus  was  God  :  if  so,  he  had  power  to  prevent 
the  ruin  of  our  city  ;  and  if  he  had  the  will  to  prevent 
it,  why  did  he  not  ?  and  if  he  did  not  choose  to  hinder 
its  destruction,  why  did  he  weep  about  it?' 

Charley  looked  sadly  at  a  loss :  and  Alick  smiled 
at  his  supposed  easy  victory.  Stroking  the  child's  face, 
he  was  going  to  say  something  playful,  but  Charley 
hastily  said,  '  No,  no,  don't  laugh.  I  know  that  it  is 
all  true  ;  but  ask  Mamma,  and  she  will  tell  you  how 
it  is  all  true.' 

Alick  looked  at  Mrs.  Ryan,  who  remarked,  '  I  will 
refer  Mr.  Cohen  to  the  Prophets  for  a  solution  of  the 
difficulty,  if  he  has  his  Bible  here  ;'  and  he  produced 
it  immediately.  She  showed  him  first  Ezekiel  xxxiii. 
10,  1 1.  "  Therefore,  O  thou  Son  of.  Man,  speak  unto 
the  house  of  Israel,  thus  ye  speak,  saying.  If  our  trans- 
gressions and  our  sins  be  upon  us,  and  we  pine  away 
in  them,  how  should  we  then  live  ?  Say  unto  them, 
as  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in 
the  death  of  the  wicked  ;  but  that  the  wicked  turn 
from  his  way  and  live :  Turn  ye,  turn  ye  from  your 
evil  ways;  for  why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel?" 
Then  turning  to  Luke  xiii.  34,  she  made  him  read, 
"  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,  which  killest  the  prophets, 
and  stonest  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee  ;  how  often 
would  I  have  gathered  thy  children  together,  as  a  hen 


80  judah's  lion. 

doth  gather  her  brood  under  her  wings,  and  ye  would 
not!  Behold  your  house  is  left  unto  you  desolate: 
and  verily  I  say  unto  you,  you  shall  not  see  me,  until 
the  time  come  when  ye  shall  say,  Blessed  is  he  that 
Cometh  in  the  name  of  the  Lord."  When  he  con- 
cluded, she  asked,  '  Do  you  not  perceive  an  agreement 
between  the  various  passages  we  have  looked  at  ?' 

^  Why,  yes,  I  do.  Here  is  a  declaration  that  God 
is  unwilling  the  house  of  Israel  should  die ;  and  to 
prevent  it,  he  bids  them  turn  from  their  evil  ways — 
I  suppose  because  justice  required  their  punishment 
if  they  did  not.  Then,  in  the  other  place,  we  find 
one,  who  according  to  you  is  God,  lamenting  that 
tliey  had  finally  refused  to  obey  his  call.  So  the 
punishment,  I  suppose,  was  inevitable.* 

*  And  would  not  he,  who  had  implored  them  to 
turn  that  they  might  live,  be  grieved  that  they  had, 
by  refusing  to  the  last,  compelled  him  to  smite  them?' 

Alick  was  silent :  pride,  equally  with  unbelief,  was 
striving  against  the  humbling  truth ;  but  Mrs.  Ryan 
saw  him  slyly  turning  down  the  edges  of  the  leaves  at 
the  different  passages,  and  rejoiced  to  think  he  would 
study  them  when  alone.     At  last  he  spoke  : 

'  Pray  don't  think  me  rude,  or  ungrateful  for  your 
kind  wish  to  teach  me :  but  I  cannot  see  these  things 
as  you  do,  and  I  won't  be  a  hypocrite.' 

^  You  must  pray,'  said  Charley,  '  and  say  as  king 
David  did,  "  Open  thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold 
wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law."  ' 

^  How  do  you  know  that  king  David  said  so  V 

'  Here  it  is,  Psalm  cxix.  18  ;'  and  Alick  marked 
that  also. 


judah's  lion.  B1 

The  sun  was  now  near  setting,  and  sonie  tittle  stir 
w^as  made  on  deck,  which  attracted  their  attention : 
the  captain  took  the  hehii ;  the  crew  gathered  round, 
one  man  heing  employed  in  mending  a  sail,  others 
picking  oakum,  splicing  a  rope,  and  such  like  inci- 
dental occupations,  or  leaning  on  the  ship's  side  ; 
while  two  cahin-boys  placed  themselves  at  a  little 
distance.  All  at  once  they  broke  out  into  a  beautiful 
chaunt,  the  deep  mellow  bass  of  the  men  being 
answered  by  the  sweet  soprano  of  the  two  boys ;  and 
altogether  the  effect  was  equally  fine  as  unexpected. 
Alick,  who  delighted  in  music,  would  have  listened 
with  unmixed  pleasure,  had  not  the  expression  of  Mrs. 
Ryan's  countenance  informed  him  that  she  was 
greatly  pained:  he  attended  to  catch  the  words, 
which  were  Latin ;  and  quickly  made  out  their  pur- 
port.    It  was  the  Litany  of  Loretto. 

Happily,  perhaps,  for  Alick,  his  father  had  been 
attracted  by  those  harmonious  sounds,  and  came  on 
deck  just  as  his  passion  was  rising.  He  at  once  saw 
the  danger  of  provoking  any  rebuke,  as  Mrs.  Ryan 
would  surely  take  part  with  him,  and  so  lead  to  ano- 
ther prohibition.  He  therefore  turned  to  the  sea, 
leaning  over  the  bulwarks,  where  he  sat,  and  feasting 
his  eyes  on  the  glorious  splendors  of  a  Mediterranean 
sunset.  The  lofty  sky,  unblemished  by  a  single  cloud ; 
the  bright  orb  sinking  to  rest  in  its  majestic  beauty ; 
the  sparkling  sea,  strewn  as  it  were  with  diamonds 
on  a  surface  of  the  purest  blue  ;  and  far  distant,  some 
dark  rocky  outlines  just  varying  the  horizontal  line  ; 
while  vessels,  like  white  sea-birds,  gleamed  here  and 
there  to  give  hfe  to  all  the  loveliness  around  them — 


82 

this  was  the  view,  calculated  to  fill  his  heart  with 
high  imaginations  of  the  divine  power,  if  not  with 
thankful  acknowledgments  of  divine  love,  while  de- 
spite himself,  his  ear  drank  in  the  sounds  of  base, 
degrading,  idolatrous  worship,  ascribing  to  a  creature, 
to  a  woman,  the  attributes  of  Deity  itself  The  pre- 
fatory anthem  was  sung;  'We  fly  to  thy  patronage, 
O  holy  mother  of  God,  despise  not  our  petitions  in 
our  necessities,  but  deliver  us  from  all  dangers,  O 
ever-glorious  and  blessed  Virgin!'   &c.  <kc. 

Then  followed  some  supplicatory  sentences,  run 
over  with  incredible  volubility,  and  next  the  famous 
string  of  blasphemous  titles,  chaunted  forth  by  the 
captain,  each  being  answered  by  the  '  Ora  pro  Nobis' 
of  the  rest.  Alick  heard  them  all  as  follows.  '  Holy 
Mary — Holy  Mother  of  God — Holy  Virgin  of  virgins 
— Mother  of  Christ — Mother  of  divine  grace — Mother 
most  pure — Mother  most  chaste — Mother  undefiled — 
Mother  inviolate — Mother  most  amiable — Mother 
most  adorable — mother  of  our  creator — Mother  of 
our  Redeemer — Virgin  most  prudent — Virgin  most 
venerable — Virgin  most  renowned — Virgin  most  pow- 
erful— Virgin  most  merciful — Virgin  most  faithful — 
Mirror  of  Justice — Seat  of  wisdom — Cause  of  our  joy 
— Spiritual  vessel — Vessel  of  honour — Vessel  of  sin- 
gular devotion — Mystical  rose — Tower  of  David — 
Tower  of  Ivory — House  of  gold — ark  of  the  covenant 
— Gate  of  heaven — morning  star — Health  of  the 
weak — refuge  of  sinners — Comfort  of  the  afflicted — 
Help  of  Christians — dueen  of  angels — Q,ueen  of  pa- 
triarchs— Glueen  of  prophets — Glueen  of  apostles — 
dueen  of  martyrs — Q,ueen  of  confessors — Glueen  of 


JUDAH  S    LION.  83 

virgins — Queen  of  all  saints,' — and  between  each  still 
came  the  melodious  chorus,  '  Ora  pro  Nobis !' 

'  Christianity!'  thought  Alick,  "  What  kind  of  hea- 
thenism can  be  more  degrading  than  this?     A  Chris- 
tian I  never  will  be,  so  to  dishonour  and  blaspheme 
Him  whose  hand  spread  out  all  this  watery  expanse 
around  me,  and  stretched  yonder  blue   arch  over  me, 
and  is  now  guiding  that  bright  orb  to  enlighten  another 
hemisphere,  and  then  to  revisit  us  again.      God  of  my 
father!  keep  me   from   such  a  sin!'     He  raised  his 
eyes,  and  met  those  of  Josef,  who  was  evidently  watch- 
ing him ;   and  Avho,  turning  a  look  of  supreme   con- 
tempt on  the   group,  with   a   special  glance   at  Mrs. 
Ryan,  muttered  in   a  whisper,  "  Such  are   they  all ! 
Not  content  with  worshipping  the  crucified,  they  give 
divine  glory  to  the  woman  his  mother,  the  fishermen 
his  followers,  and  to  every  knave  who  has  helped  to 
spread  the  lie  among  them.'      He  then  walked  away ; 
but  his  remark  had  affected  Alick    diflerently  from 
what  he   intended.     Conscience  told  him  that  Mrs. 
Ryan  certainly  dissented,  as  cordially  as  he  did,  from 
these  idolatries,  and  that  they  ought  not  to  be  charged 
upon  her  individually.     He  rather  inchned  to  think 
that   there    was  a  small  body  whose  natural  sense 
enabled  them  to    throw  off  the   grosser  parts  of  the 
general   system,  which,  from  the   countenance  given 
to  it  in  Malta,  he  concluded  to  be  that  of  acknowledged 
Christianity.      He  came  to  the  resolution  of  fairly  and 
unreservedly  talking  the  matter  out  with  Mrs.  Ryan, 
and   as   they  expected  to  be  yet  five  days  at  sea,  he 
hoped  for  sufficient  time   to  do  it.     Meantime,  his 
father  had  entered  into  conversation  with  that  lady,  in 


84  judah's  lion. 

reference  to  the  classic  Isles  of  Greece,  among  which 
they  had  to  steer  their  way,  and  the  approach  to 
which  had  roused  his  poetical  feelings.  He  found  her 
so  well-informed,  so  agreeable,  and  so  perfectly  the 
lady,  that  on  parting  with  his  son  at  night,  he  warmly 
commended  his  taste  in  choosing  such  society,  spoke 
very  slightingly  of  Ben-Melchor,  and  gently  cautioned 
Alick  to  avoid  offensively  noticing  the  *  harmless 
absurdities'  of  the  Captain  and  his  crew. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

"  If  any  man  among  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask 
of  God,  who  giveth  unto  all  men  liberally  and  upbraid- 
eth  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him."  We  are  naturally 
destitute  of  this  heaven-descended  wisdom,  and  habit- 
ually negligent  in  asking  it.  Happy  are  they  who, 
like  Alick  Cohen,  fall  in  with  a  teacher  whose  con- 
duct presents  an  exception  to  this  general  rule  ! 

Mrs.  Ryan  had  no  fixed  plan  of  proceeding  with 
those  who,  in  the  course  of  events,  were  brought  be- 
fore her :  she  knew  that  each  one  is  a  little  world  in 
himself,  with  many  distinctive  peculiarities  in  his 
character,  views,  circumstances,  which  render  it  im- 
possible for  the  eye  of  a  casual  observer  to  penetrate 
the  veil  of  outward  conformity  to  the  habits  of  those 
about  him.  Accordingly  she  was  accustomed  to  ask 
help  in  studying  individuals  as  such  :  and  direction  in 
dealing  with  them.  She  had  closely  watched  Alick, 
during  their  brief  interviews,  and  remarked  in  him 
that  freshness  of  feeling,  and  energy  of  thought,  which 
are  always  delightful  to  deal  with,  when  the  person 
seeking  to  do  good  is  not  cramped  by  rules,  and  fet- 
tered to  systems.  She  had  marked  his  ill-suppressed 
emotion  when  listening  to  the  blasphemous  Litany, 
and  rejoiced  that  her  task  was  not  to  rouse  a  cold  in- 
different mindj  but  to  direct  into  the  right  path  one 

8 


86 

evidently  on  tlie  stir,  and  perplexed  by  the  crossings 
that  beset  his  way.  Thought  and  prayer  brought  her 
to  the  decision  that  she  ought  to  take  into  her  own 
hands  what  httle  Charley  had  begun,  and  when  they 
met  on  deck  the  following  day,  she  lost  no  time  in 
commencing. 

'  Well,  Mr.  Cohen,  have  your  thoughts  been  travel- 
ling with  the  ship,  eastward,  towards  the  land  of  your 
fathers  V 

^  Indeed,  Ma'am,  they  have.  You  must  know  that 
yesterday,  I  marked  down  several  of  the  passages  that 
you  directed  me  to  when  we  were  talking ;  indeed, 
all  of  them:  and  I  have  been  reading  them  over, 
with  a  great  deal  besides.  I  got  little  sleep  last  night, 
what  with  poring  over,  and  pondering  on  the  Bible.' 

*  Then  you  will  know  the  blessedness  of  which  king 
David  speaks,'  remarked  Mrs.  Ryan,  turning  to  the 
first  Psalm.  '  See  his  description  of  the  happy  man  : 
"  His  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord ;  in  his  law 
doth  he  meditate,  day  and  night."  What  is  the  result 
of  your  study?' 

'  I  have  found  out  that  I  am  very  ignorant' 

*  I  rejoice  to  hear  it,  my  dear  young  friend.  When 
God  is  about  to  teach  his  children,  he  begins  by  shew- 
ing them  how  greatly  they  need  such  instruction. 
But  on  what  point  is  your  ignorance  made  so  mani- 
fest?' 

'  On  every  point  connected  with  this  book ;  but 
chiefly  as  it  concerns  my  ov^ti  people,  who  seem  to  be 
the  main  subject  of  it ;  for  I  cannot  turn  over  two 
leaves  without  meeting  with  the  words  Israel,  Zion, 
and  so  forth.     I  have  heard  it  whispered  to  my  father,' 


judah's  lion.  87 

he  added,  smiling,  ^  that  reading  the  Bible  would  make 
me  a  Christian :  it  is  more  likely  to  make  me  doubly 
a  Jew.' 

'  My  dear  husband  would  be  delighted  to  hear  you 
say  that.  He  is  very  jealous  for  the  nationality  of 
your  race,  and  asserts  that  a  Jew  who  embraces 
Christianity  is  three  times  a  Jew.  An  Israelite  ac- 
cording to  the  flesh,  an  Israelite  according  to  the 
faith,  and  an  Israelite  according  to  the  territorial 
promise.' 

'  I  am  not  going  to  embrace  Christianity,'  said 
Alick,  colouring :  '  but  please  to  tell  me  what  you 
mean  by  the  territorial  promise  V 

'  The  unrevoked,  unrevoke  able  assurance  given  to 
Abraham,  that  his  seed  should  possess  the  land  of 
Canaan  as  an  inheritance  for  ever.  An  assurance 
confirmed  by  the  pen  of  prophets  and  apostles,  and 
the  fulfilment  of  which  it  is  sinful  to  doubt.' 

'  Then  you  think  we  shall,  as  a  people,  re-possess 
Judea  V 

'  I  should  hesitate  to  say  that  I  think  we  are  now 
at  sea,  because  I  positively  know  that  we  are  :  in  like 
manner,  though  not  by  sight  but  by  faith,  I  know  you 
will  again,  as  a  nation,  inherit  the  land,  and  that  your 
Jerusalem  shall  be  a  praise  in  the  whole  earth.' 

'  Now  tell  me,  Mrs.  Ryan,'  said  Alick  earnestly, 
^  how  comes  it  that  while  you  evidently  look  upon  us 
as  a  people  specially  blessed,  once  the  chief  of  the 
nations,  though  now  so  fallen  and  obscured — while 
you  hold  our  book  of  the  law,  prize  it,  and  frame  your 
religion  on  it,  you  should  still  desire  us  to  forsake  that 
religion?    You,  as  Gentiles,  cannot  become   Jews; 


88  judah's  lion. 

why  do  you  wish  to  make  the  Jew  a  Gentile  ? — for, 
put  it  how  you  will,  Christianity  is  a  Gentile  religion, 
and  therefore  we  cannot  adopt  it  without  forfeiting 
our  privileges  as  Jews.  Now,  pardon  me  if  what  I 
say  offends  you, — I  read  this  book  at  the  persuasion 
of  Gentiles,  or  at  least  by  their  example  and  through 
their  means :  I  read  passages  of  your  own  pointing 
out ;  and  because  I  felt  deeply,  ay,  personally  inter- 
ested in  them,  I  read  many  a  page  besides.  Hours 
and  hours  I  read ;  and  when  I  show  you  what  I  read, 
you  cannot  blame  me  for  wondering  how  you,  who 
know  the  book  so  well,  should  expect  me,  after  study- 
ing it  even  for  a  few  hours,  to  descend — that  is,  I 
mean — to  remove  from  my  place,  as  a  descendant  of 
Abraham — an  Israelite/ 

He  spoke  the  last  word  emphatically,  and  proceeded 
to  turn  over  the  leaves  of  his  Bible  :  his  hand  trem- 
bled, and  the  flashing  of  his  eyes  was  singularly 
bright.  Mrs.  Ryan  spoke  not  a  word,  but  gazed  on 
him  with  delighted  interest,  pressing  little  Charley 
closer  to  her  bosom,  who,  seated  on  her  lap,  had 
become  drowsy  till  the  altered  tone  of  A  lick's  voice 
roused  him,  and  he  too  looked  and  listened.  The 
passage  was  found,  Alick  smiled  triumphantly,  lifted 
the  book,  threw  back  his  head,  and  with  a  highly 
poetic  effect  read  aloud  these  words,  '  "  Arise  !  shine  ! 
for  thy  light  is  come ;  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
risen  upon  thee.  For  behold,  the  darkness  shall 
cover  the  earth,  and  gross  darkness  the  people :  but 
the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee,  and  his  glory  shall  be 
seen  upon  thee."  To  whom  is  this  addressed,  Mrs. 
Ryan?' 


judah's  lion.  89 

'  To  the  Jewish  church,  unquestionably.' 

AUck  smiled  again,  and  resumed;  ^"And  the 
Gentiles  shall  come  to  thy  light,  and  kings  to  the 
brightness  of  thy  rising."  It  proceeds  in  the  same 
strain ;  thus,  '*  And  the  sons  of  strangers  shall  build 
up  thy  walls,  and  their  kings  shall  minister  unto  thee  : 
for  in  my  wrath  I  smote  thee,  but  in  my  favour  have 
I  had  mercy  on  thee.  Therefore  thy  gates  shall  be 
open  continually  ;  they  shall  not  be  shut  day  nor 
night ;  that  men  may  bring  unto  thee  the  forces  of  the 
Gentiles ;  and  that  their  kings  may  be  brought.  For 
the  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve  thee  shall 
perish  ;  yea,  those  nations  shall  be  utterly  wasted." 
Again,  "  The  sons  also  of  them  that  afflicted  thee 
shall  come  bending  unto  thee  ;  and  they  that  despised 
thee  shall  bow  themselves  down  at  the  soles  of  thy 
feet ;  and  they  shall  call  the  city  of  the  Lord  ;  the  Zion 
of  the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  Whereas  thou  hast  been 
forsaken  and  hated,  so  that  no  man  went  through  thee, 
I  will  make  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  the  joy  of 
many  generations.  Thou  shalt  also  suck  the  milk  of 
the  Gentiles ;  and  shalt  suck  the  breast  of  kings :  and 
.thou  shalt  know  that  I  am  thy  Saviour,  and  thy  Re- 
deemer, the  Mighty  one  of  Jacob."  Has  this  ever 
been  fulfilled,  Mrs.  Ryan  V 

'  Never.' 

^  Will  it  be?' 

'  As  surely  as  yonder  sun  shall  rise  upon  us  to-mor- 
row, it  will  be  fulfilled,  literally,  abundantly  fulfilled 
to  Israel.' 

He  look  steadily  at  her,  and  she  met  his  proud  gaze 
with  one  of  affection  and  humility :  then  after  a  mo- 

8* 


90  judah's  lion. 

merit's  silence  said,  '  Will  you  listen  patiently  to  me 
for  a  few  minutes,  while  I  strive  to  explain  our  seem- 
ing inconsistencies  V 

'  I  will  indeed,  ma,am  ;  and  I  hope  that  in  showing 
you  how  I  must  cherish  this  great  privilege  of  being  a 
Jew,  I  have  not  been  disrespectful  or  rude  to  you.' 

'Far  from  it:  I  bless  God  even  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham that  he  puts  it  in  your  heart  to  value  these  pre- 
cious words.  But  now  to  my  statement :  you  are 
aware  that  Abraham  was  called  out  of  his  own  country 
and  blessed,  and  had  two  special  promises  made  to 
him.  One  was,  that  his  children  should  possess  the 
whole  land  of  Canaan  and  inherit  it  for  ever ;  the 
other,  that  in  his  seed  should  all  the  families  of  the 
earth  be  blessed.  These  promises  were  confirmed  to 
Isaac,  then  to  Jacob ;  with  the  further  intimation  that, 
of  his  twelve  sons,  Judah  was  one  of  whose  lineage 
the  promised  seed,  the  Messiah,  the  Deliverer  and 
King  of  the  whole  earth  should  come.  After  a  long 
while,  Canaan  was  conquered,  and  divided  among  the 
twelve  tribes,  and  they,  in  process  of  time  became 
two  kingdoms,  known  as  the  kingdoms  of  Judah  and 
Israel.' 

*  Pardon  me  for  interrupting  you  ;  but  in  what  his- 
torical work  can  I  find  all  these  particulars  V 

'  In  the  book  you  hold  in  your  hand  :  I  will  show 
you  everything  distinctly  set  forth.  Judah  and  Ben- 
jamin united,  formed  the  kingdom  of  Judah ;  the  other 
ten  who  had  first  revolted,  soon  fell  into  idolatry,  and 
after  much  sinful  rebellion  against  the  Lord,  they  were 
given  into  the  hand  of  the  Assyrian,  carried  away  cap- 
tive, and  so  scattered  among  the  nations  that  scarcely 


91 

a  vestige  visibly  remains  of  tliem  at  this  day.  Ju- 
dah,  notwithstanding  this  fearful  example,  continued 
to  sin  in  like  manner,  and  was  given  up  to  the  Baby- 
lonians, who  destroyed  the  Temple  of  Solomon,  broke 
down  the  walls  of  Jerusalem,  and  carried  Judah  away 
captive  into  Babylon,  where  they  remained  seventy 
years.  They  were  then  res^pred ;  that  is  to  say,  Judah, 
with  a  few  individuals  from  among  Ephraim,  as  the 
ten  tribes  are  called  ;  the  temple  rebuilt,  and  for  five 
hundred  years  the  Jews  repossessed  their  land,  never 
again  relapsing  into  idolatry,  which  had  caused  their 
chastisment.  At  length,  the  most  dreadful  calamities 
overtook  them  ;  and  after  a  long  period  of  oppression 
under  the  Roman  yoke,  they  were  slaughtered,  or  car- 
ried away  captive  ;  the  city  razed,  the  land  laid  waste, 
and  for  nearly  eighteen  hundred  years  has  Judah  been 
an  outcast ;  not  mingled  and  lost  among  other  people, 
like  the  ten  tribes,  but  miraculously  preserved,  to  be 
restored  and  re-established  in  the  sight  of  the  whole 
world  by  the  arm  of  their  Jehovah  ;  who  will  also  col- 
lect and  bring  in  together  the  scattered  tribes  of  Israel. 
This  is  what  we  may  call  the  political  history  of 
Israel — the  national  experience,  past  and  to  come,  of 
God's  faithfulness  in  the  promise  of  the  land.  Now 
we  arrive  at  another  branch  of  the  subject :  the  pro- 
mise that  in  Abraham's  seed,  in  the  progeny  of  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Judah,  should  all  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed. 
"  The  great  object  for  which  your  nation  was  so 
set  apart,  was,  that  they  might  be  the  depositories  of 
God's  word,  treasuring  up  his  prophecies,  that  in  their 
fulfilment  he  might  be  openly  glorified.  Laws  were 
given,  and  rites  were  appointed,  every  one  of  which 


92  judah's  lion. 

was  calculated  in  a  lively  manner  to  keep  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  fixed  on  the  one  great  object,  the 
promised  seed,  the  Messiah,  whose  office  it  was  to 
make  atonement  to  God  for  the  sins  of  men,  offering 
a  sacrifice  that  would  be  a  sufficient  substitute  for  the 
guilty  sinners  whose  misdeeds  had  forfeited  their  souls, 
and  who  stood  exposed  to  the  just  wrath  of  God.  In 
this  sense  he  was  to  be  a  deliverer,  a  blessing  to  all 
the  families  of  the  earth  ;  and  winning  back  the  world 
from  Satan,  he  would  be  acknowledged  as  universal 
king — in  an  especial  manner  king  of  the  Jews,  of 
whom,  after  the  flesh,  he  should  come  :  the  promised 
seed  of  Abraham,  as  to  immediate  Hebrew  descent ; 
and  also  the  promised  seed  of  the  woman — Eve — the 
mother  of  all  flesh.  God,  having  set  apart  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  and  mightily  delivered  them  out  of 
bondage,  and  made  them  an  independent  nation^ 
miraculously  inspired  their  leader  Moses,  to  write 
down  the  marvellous  history  of  the  creation,  of  man's 
sin,  of  the  promised  seed  who  should  bruise  the  ser- 
pent's head,  and  of  all  his  marvellous  dealings,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world  to  that  time  ;  with  a  dis- 
tinct prophecy  of  one  who  was  to  come,  a  prophet  like 
unto  Moses,  to  whom  they  were  to  give  heed  at  the 
peril  of  their  souls.  Thenceforth  the  voice  of  prophecy 
ceased  not  through  many  ages,  always  testifying  of 
him  who  was  to  come  ;  and  showing  plainly  that  his 
work  was  the  redemption  of  man  by  the  sacrifice  of 
himself;  after  which  he  should  again  come,  no  longer 
a  sorrowful  victim,  but  a  majestic  rejoicing  conqueror, 
to  destroy  his  stubborn  foes,  and  to  reign  gloriously 
for  ever.     Satan,  the  great  enemy  of  God  and  man, 


93 

knowing  how  intimately  all  these  things  were  inters 
woven  with  the  destiny  of  Israel  in  particular,  never 
ceased  to  tempt  them  to  every  kind  of  provocation 
against  the  Lord,  hoping  thereby  to  frustrate  his  gra- 
cious purposes.  Knowing  idolatry  to  be  of  all  things 
the  most  abominably  and  outrageously  insulting  to  the 
Most  High  God,  he  especially  tempted  Israel  to  that 
crime  :  and  when,  after  the  return  from  Babylon,  he 
found  them  proof  against  it,  he  chose  another  snare — 
he  led  them  so  to  add  to  the  oracles  of  God,  which 
they  dared  not  alter,  that  by  the  traditions,  the  inter- 
polations, the  vain  superstitious  ordinances  of  man, 
they  made  it  vain  ;  the  pure  tenor  of  prophecy  was 
no  longer  understood  ;  and  when  their  Messiah, — him 
to  whom  gave  all  the  prophets  witness, — came  ex- 
actly at  the  appointed  time,  and  exactly  in  the  ap- 
pointed way,  as  foreshown  by  Isaiah,  David,  and  other 
prophets,  they  knew  him  not — they  rejected,  they 
crucified  him.  For  this  deadly  sin  they  were  driven 
forth  from  their  goodly  heritage,  scattered  among  all 
nations,  and  exposed  to  the  wrath  of  God,  until  they 
shall  turn  to  him  who  smites  them,  and  casting  from 
them  the  vain  traditions  of  men,  believe  the  word  of 
God,  as  declared  by  their  own  inspired  prophets,  and 
acknowledge  the  Saviour  who  once  sufiered  for  them, 
who  shall  again  come  to  reign  over  them — their  own 
Messiah,  their  King,  their  God  !' 

During  this  long  address, — which  was  uttered  from 
an  overflowing  heart,  with  all  the  animation  of  one 
whose  long  pent-up  feelings  have  at  last  found  vent, — 
Alick  listened  with  a  depth  of  earnest  attention  im- 
possible to  describe.     For  some  time  he  kept  his  eyes 


94  judah's  lion. 

steadily  fixed  on  the  speaker ;  but  as  he  proceeded, 
they  sunk  to  the  book  which  he  held  still  open  ;  and 
unconsciously  he  took  in  the  purport  of  a  verse  on 
which  they  fell,  just  preceding  what  he  had  read, — 
"  And  he  saw  that  there  was  no  man,  and  wondered 
that  there  was  no  intercessor ;  therefore  his  arm 
brought  salvation  unto  him,  and  his  righteousness  it 
sustained  him."  Alick  shut  the  book,  and  continued 
gazing  on  the  cover,  till  Mrs.  Ryan  concluded.  After 
a  short  silence,  he  said,  without  looking  up,  '  Then  you 
think  we  shall  not  recover  our  own  land  unless  we  be- 
come Christians  V 

'  I  do  not  say  so,'  replied  Mrs.  Ryan :  ^  the  word  of 
prophecy  rather  leads  me  to  think  your  people  will  na- 
tionally repossess  it  in  their  present  state  ;  but  enjoy 
it  you  never  can,  nor  will  you  be  left  in  peace,  or  know 
an  hour  of  real  prosperity  or  happiness,  until  you  turn 
to  the  Lord  Jesus,  acknowledge  him,  mourn  your  own 
sin,  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation.' 

*  But  suppose  we  never  do  this?' 

'  Oh  you  will,  you  will!'  exclaimed  little  Charles, 
almost  in  a  scream  ;  '  look  in  your  Bible,  Mr.  Alick  ; 
look  at  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Zechariah,  the  tenth 
verse — here,  I'll  find  it  for  you.'  He  did  so,  and  Alick 
read, — "  And  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David  and 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace 
and  of  supplication ;  and  they  shall  look  upon  me 
whom  they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for 
him  as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be  in 
bitterness  for  him  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his 
firstborn."  And  now  just  look  at  the  thirty-sixth  of 
Ezekiel,  the  twenty-third  vers«  ;  "  And  I  will  sanctify 


JUD All's   LION.  95 

my  great  name,  wlilcli  was  profaned  among  the  hea- 
then, which  ye  have  profaned  in  the  midst  of  them ; 
and  the  heathen  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord,  saith 
the  Lord  God,  when  I  shall  be  sanctified  in  you  before 
their  eyes.  For  I  will  take  you  from  among  the  hea- 
then, and  gather  you  out  of  all  countries,  and  I  will 
bring  you  into  your  own  land.  Then"  oh,  mind  that, 
Mr.  Alick — "  then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon 
you,  and  ye  shall  be  clean :  from  all  your  filthiness 
and  from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse  you.  A  new 
heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put 
within  you  ;  and  I  will  take  away  the  stony  heart  out 
of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you  an  heart  of  flesh. 
And  I  will  put  my  Spirit  within  you,  and  cause  you  to 
walk  in  my  statutes,  and  ye  shall  keep  my  judgments 
and  do  them.  And  ye  shall  dwell  in  the  land  that  I 
gave  to  your  fathers ;  and  ye  shall  be  my  people,  and 
I  will  be  your  God."  There,  what  do  you  say  to 
that?'  asked  the  little  fellow,  triumphantly;  and 
Alickj  in  the  attempt  to  answer,  while  stroking  the 
dimpled  hand  that  pointed  out  the  blessed  words,  burst 
into  tears. 

Charley  jumped  on  his  knee,  and  kissing  away  the 
drops  as  they  fell,  said,  ^  My  own  darling  Jew,  Jesus 
Christ  loves  you.' 

^  I  think,'  said  Alick,  as,  smiling,  he  passed  his  hand 
over  his  forehead,  ^my  night's  study  has  been  too 
much  for  my  nerves,  idle  truant  as  I  have  long  proved 
myself  You  see,  Charley,  I  am  a  naughty  boy,  hav- 
ing neglected  my  books  ever  since  I  was  at  school ; 
and  now  I  am  no  better  than  an  overgrown  baby.' 

*  No,  no,'  said  Charles  gravely,  '  it  is  not  that.    You 


96  judah's  lion. 

are  going  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  and  so 
you  are  become  as  a  little  child."  And  then  he  bustled 
over  the  leaves,  and  showed  him  our  Lord's  words. 

'  The  things  you  have  said  to  me,  Ma'am,'  said 
Alick,  *  are  really  quite  overpowering  to  the  mind. 
So  many  matters,  new  and  strange,  and  important,  are 
contained  in  your  statement  that  I  really  don't  know 
what  to  say  or  think.  I  only  wish  I  was  half  as  wise 
as  this  little  oracle,'  clasping  Charley  to  him,  with  a 
look  so  full  of  affection,  that  Mrs.  Ryan  thought  she 
had  never  seen  a  more  fascinating  countenance. 
*  Look,  my  dear  young  friend,'  she  suddenly  said,  in 
a  low  voice,  ^  yonder  is  one  of  your  nation,  a  rigid 
Talmudist,  who  holds  those  blinding  additions  and 
commandments  of  men,  to  the  exclusion  of  the  light 
that  would  shine  upon  him  from  this  glorious  word. 
He  is  now,  no  doubt,  engaged  in  some  work  of  sup- 
posed merit ;  and  while  scorning  the  idolatry  of  the 
poor  Romanists  whom  you  heard  last  evening  at  their 
degrading  creature-worship,  he  is  wrapped  in  the  same 
net  that  entangles  them — obedience  to  man,  rather 
than  to  God.' 

'  Does  Ben-Melchor  admit  the  divine  authority  o 
this  book.  Ma'am?' 

'  Of  the  Old  Testament  fully.      Do  you  understand 
Hebrew  V 

^  Yes :  I  learnt  it  very  young.     I  can  read  and 
speak  it.' 

'  Will  you  take  the  trouble  of  fetching  me  a  basket 
that  stands  on  the  table  in  my  cabin  V 

Away  went  Alick ;  and  Mrs.  Ryan,  catching  Char- 
ley  to  her  bosom,  said,  'My  love,  pray,  pray!  there 


le 

■4 


JUDAH'S   LION.  ,  07 

is  a  briglit  and  blessed  hope  for  this  sweet  young 
Israehte.' 

'  Am  I  your  httle  Missionary,  Mamma?  am  I?' 

'  Yes  you  are,  vein  of  my  heart!  But  you  must 
pray  for  wisdom  and  boldness,  you  know.' 

'  How  pleased  Papa  will  be,  won't  he  ?  but  hush, 
for  here  comes  the  darling  Jew.' 

Smihng  her  thanks,  Mrs.  Ryan  took  the  basket,  and 
unlocking  it,  produced  a  beautifully  printed  copy  of  the 
Bible  in  Hebrew  ;  which  Alick  rather  seized  than 
took,  exclaiming,  '  What  a  splendid  type  !'  and  eagerly 
commenced  reading  the  first  verse,  with  a  fluency  of 
pronunciation  that  delighted  Mrs.  Ryan ;  while 
Charley  cried  out  with  much  glee,  '  That's  the  lan- 
guage they  spoke  in  Eden/ 

'  Accept  that  book,  Mr.  Cohen,  said  his  friend ; 
'  and  trust  me,  Ben-Melchor  will  not  call  a  word  of  it 
in  question.      Do  study  it,  and  with  prayer.' 

^  Dear  Madam !  how  shall  I  thank  you  for  such  a 
gift!' 

'  How  shall  I  thank  7/ou,  Mr.  Cohen,  for  that  pre- 
cious book?  To  your  nation  were  committed  the 
oracles  of  God ;  and  but  for  their  fidelity  to  the  sacred 
trust,  we  Gentiles  must  have  perished.  They  lost  all 
things,  but  they  kept  this ;  they  have  guarded  it 
through  the  brightest  day  of  prosperity,  and  the  dark- 
est night  of  adversity.  When  Popery  would  gladly 
have  annihilated  such  a  living  witness  against  her 
abominable  perversions,  she  could  not,  for  the  Jew 
preserved  it :  when  she  would  have  mutilated  and 
made  it  speak  the  language  of  her  own  falsehood,  she 
could  not,  for  the  Jew  protected  it.     Trust  me,  Mr. 

9 


98  JUDAll's    LION. 

Cohen,  when  a  Gentile  hands  to  a  Jew  that  holy  and 
blessed  volume,  he  does  but  an  act  of  such  imperative 
duty,  that  the  wilful  omission  would  be  recorded 
against  his  soul.  We  thank  you  for  the  Bible — with 
our  inmost  hearts  we  thank  you  for  the  Bible  !' 

Mrs.  Ryan  and  Charley  now  left  the  deck,  and 
Alick,  pocketing  both  his  treasures,  walked  straight 
up  to  Ben-Melchor,  who  had  been  standing  us  usual, 
with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  water,  muttering  rapidly 
some  unintelHgible  words.  '  Do  I  interrupt  you?' 
ksked  the  youth. 

'  No :  my  hours  of  study  are  over  till  the  sun  has 
set.' 

*  Would  it  not  be  good  for  your  health,  sir,  to  pass 
more  time  on  deck  ?  I  should  grudge  as  many  hours' 
confinement  in  a  close  cabin  with  this  bright  sea 
about  me.' 

'  What  availeth  the  body's  health,  young  man, 
compared  with  the  soul's  welfare  V 

'  May  they  not  be  promoted  together,  sir ?  1  can 
hardly  think  God  gave  us  all  these  delightful  things 
to  turn  our  backs  upon.' 

'  Wisdom  is  not  with  youth,  but  with  men  of  ripened 
age.  Very  painful  are  the  studies  that  fit  the  soul  for 
blessedness ;  and  very  sore  the  discipline  appointed 
for  mind  and  body  to  make  us  worthy  thereof 

Alick  thought  of  becoming  as  "little  children,"  and 
felt  how  dissimilar  were  the  two  ways  pointed  out  to 
him.  He  resumed, — *  Would  it  be  presumptuous  to 
ask  the  nature  of  your  studies  V 

*  The  law,  youth,  the  holy  law,  which  is  given  to 
make  us  wise.' 


JUD All's   LION.  QQ 


Alick  drew  forth  his  Hebrew  Bible,  and  found  the 
first  Psalm,  from  which  he  read  the  two  first  verses. 
Ben-Melchor  looked  at  him  in  astonishment,  then  si- 
lently, took  the  book,  and  examined  it  with  great  care: 
he  then  closed  it,  laid  it  reverently  to  his  lips,  pressed 
it  to  his  bosom,  and  said  in  a  solemn  tone,  '  It  is  a 
prohibited  book.' 

Alick  thought  the  words  and  actions  of  his  country- 
man strangely  at  variance :  however,  he  only  asked, 
*  By  whom  is  it  prohibited?' 

'  By  the  Rabbins.' 

'  I  have  the  greatest  respect  for  the  Rabbins,  but 
they  shall  not  hinder  me  from  reading  this.' 

'  Youth    is    presumptuous,'     remarked    the    Jew. 
What  authority  hast  thou  for  disobeying  the  Rab- 
bins?' 

'  I  have  God's  authority,  ay,  and  his  command,  to 
study  this  book.' 

'  Boy  !  the  Holy  One  (blessed  be  he)  speaks  not  to 
the  unlearned.     When  heardest  thou  his  voice  V 

'  I  have  it  here,'  said  Alick,  turning  over  with 
strange  delight  the  leaves  of  his  new  Bible.  '  Our 
great  prophet,  Moses,  delivered  to  us  the  command  ;* 
— and  he  read  the  passage  from  Deuteronomy. 

^  The  memory  of  Moses  is  blessed,'  said  the  Jew. 
'  But  see,  the  sun  is  setting,  and  I  must  to  my  cabin. 
Peace  be  with  thee  !  but  read  not  that  prohibited 
book.' 

'  Indeed  I  will,'  thought  Alick,  as  he  courteously 
returned  the  parting  salutation,  and  then,  pacing  the 
deck,  devoured  the   word  of  life  in  a  language  of 


100  JUDAH'S    LION. 

wliich  he  seemed  never  before  to  have  felt  the  beauty 
or  the  power. 

*  Ahck,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  as  he  bade  him  good  night, 
*  to-morrow  I  must  be  on  deck  all  day.  We  .shall  be 
passing  among 

The  isles  of  Greece,  the  isles  of  Greece, 
Where  burning  Sappho  loved  and  sung ; 

And  I  must  enjoy  with  you  the  many  classic  reminis- 
cences that  cannot  fail  to  brighten  our  track/ 

Alick  bowed  ;  but  the  words  that  would,  a  little 
while  before,  have  been  so  congenial  to  his  taste,  ac- 
tually grated  on  his  ear,  exciting  a  feeling  of  disgust. 
Whence  could  it  be  ?  He  did  not  know :  but  with 
redoubled  zest  he  betook  himself  to  the  contents  of 
his  Hebrew  Bible,  and  fell  asleep  with  his  finger  on 
the  page,  and  his  mind  filled  with  the  sublime  ima- 
gery of  Isaiah. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Hebrew  Bible  which  Mrs.  Ryan  had  given  to 
Ahck  had  been  for  some  time  in  her  husband's  posses- 
sion ;  and  he  had  marked,  faintly  but  distinctly,  by  a 
pencil  line  down  the  margin,  sundry  passages,  to  which 
he  wished  especially  to  refer^  when  discussing  with 
Jews  the  word  of  prophecy  and  of  promise.  Alick  did 
not  at  first  perceive  these  marks :  but  on  discovering 
one  over  against  a  glowing  description  of  Israel's  fu- 
ture glory,  he  eagerly  sought  for  more  ;  and  reading 
wdth  the  ardent  perseverance  of  one  who  is  not  ful- 
filling a  task,  or  seeking  out  hidden  mysteries,  but 
hoping  to  gather  valuable  information  from  the  pages 
before  him,  he  took  in  the  purport  of  a  vast  body  of 
evidence,  while  his  heart  now  melted,  now  glowed, 
now  trembled  ;  as  sorrow,  hope,  awe,  alternately  bore 
sway  over  his  deeply-excited  spirit.  '  What  upon 
earth,'  thought  he,  as  with  a  gesture  of  impatience  he 
struck  his  hand  on  the  volume,  ^  What  upon  earth 
have  the  Gentiles  to  do  with  this  book  ?  from  begin- 
ning to  end  it  concerns  us,  and  us  alone  :  how  came 
they  to  possess  it,  while  among  us  it  is  scarcely  heard^ 
of?'  He  turned  over  the  leaves,  and  his  eye  falling 
on  the  nineteenth  Psalm,  he  recognized  it  at  once  as 
forming  part  of  the  synagogue- worship  ;  in  which  he 
had  often  joined,  but  too  heedlessly  to  take  note  of 


102  judah's  lion. 

anything  but  a  few  specimens  of  what  he  considered 
highly  poetical  language  and  imagery ;  among  which 
he  had  particularly  admired  this.  '  So,'  said  he,  after 
carefully  reading  it  over,  '  this  portion  cf  the  Bible 
is  actually  in  daily  use  among  us.  Have  the  Goim* 
translated  it,  I  wonder?  He  looked  into  Gordon's 
Bible,  and  found  it  correctly  given  ;  then  returning  to 
the  Hebrew,  he  recognized  many  other  passages,  as 
being  interwoven  with  his  hturgy.  *  How  I  wish  I 
had  my  prayer-book  here  !  I  used  to  despise  the  men 
and  lads  around  me,  who  pored  so  closely  over  their 
book,  and  joined  so  devoutly  in  the  responses,  while  I 
was  peeping  up  through  the  gallery-screen  to  see  the 
ladies  coming  and  going  ;  or  amusing  myself  with 
Esther's  angry  glances  as  she  saw  me  so  inattentive. 
Poor  dear  Esther !  her  heart  is  with  her  people, 
mourning  over  their  afflicted  state,  and  longing,  pray- 
ing, believing — Oh,  how  far  superior  is  she  to  me, 
who  do  not  deserve  to  be  called  a  Jew !'  In  this  way 
he  went  on,  reading,  remembering,  and  soliloquizing 
over  the  inspired  word ;  his  prevailing  wish  being  for 
some  one  with  whom  to  discuss,  in  free,  full,  vigorous 
argument,  what  seemed  to  increase  his  perplexity 
wdth  every  line  he  read.  He  remembered  that  one 
of  the  sentences  he  was  accustomed  to  hear  in  public 
worship  was,  "  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord  !  our  God, 
king  of  the  universe,  who  hath  not  made  me  a  wo- 
rnan."  And  he  secretly  confessed  that  to  be  such  a 
woman  as  Mrs.  Ryan  would  be  no  great  disadvantage. 
Yet  he  longed  for  a  man  to  reason  with  him  out  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  felt  confident  that  he  could  estab- 
*  Gentiles. 


JUDAH  S    LION.  103 

lish  the  exclusive  title  of  Israel  to  every  good  thing 
mentioned  in  them. 

In  this  mood  his  father  found  him  when  he  came 
on  deck  early,  to  enjoy  the  scenery.  Ben-Melchor 
had  also,  it  seemed,  a  respite  from  his  severe  services, 
for  he  appeared  more  carefully  attired,  and  with  a 
mind  evidently  more  disengaged,  than  on  any  of  his 
precedent  transient  visits.  Alick  could  not  account 
for  the  pugnacious  feeling  of  which  he  was  inwardly 
conscious,  and  which  seemed  almost  equally  ready  to 
vent  itself  on  any  convenient  ohject.  It  was  the  proud 
spirit  of  stiff-necked  Judaism  rising  within  him — the 
tossings  of  a  mind  breaking  loose  from  its  former  moor- 
ings in  the  stagnant  waters  of  lazy  indifference,  and 
caught  in  conflicting  billows  without  being  able  to 
reach  the  stedfast  anchor  of  well-grounded  hope  and 
assured  faith. 

Mr.  Cohen  appeared  unusually  cheerful  and  sociable 
with  Ben-Melchor,  whom  he  wisely  determined  to 
make  as  agreeable  as  he  could,  since  there  was  no 
avoiding  him ;  and  the  latter  related  some  particulars 
of  the  recent  proceedings  of  Mahomet  Ali,  the  turbu- 
lent old  Pasha,  which  interested  Mr.  Cohen  by  their 
political  bearing,  and  set  Alick  considering  whether 
the  singular  character  and  arbitrary  proceedings  of  the 
Egyptian  Chief  might  not  be  turned  to  the  advantage 
of  the  Jews.  He  had,  w4iile  seeking  out  psalms  con- 
nected with  the  synagogue-worship,  recalled  to  mind 
how  incessantly  their  prayers  turned  on  the  point  of 
the  national  restoration ;  and  this,  combined  with  the 
confident  predictions  of  Mrs.  Ryan  and  Charles,  con- 
vmced  him  that  it  was  the  bounden  duty  of  every 


104  judah's  lion. 

Jew  to  make  it  the  principal  object  of  his  most  stren- 
uous efforts.  But  on  this  subject  nothing  was  said  ; 
and  Ahck  was  just  meditating  an  escape  from  such 
uninteresting  society,  when  he  was  reheved  by  seeing 
his  friend  Charley  came  bustling  up  the  ladder. 

'  Well,  my  little  man,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  '  is  not  your 
Mother  coming  to  enjoy  this  fine  weather  on  deck  T 

'  No,  sir :  Mamma  is  busy  in  the  cabin  ;  and  I  am 
come  to  play,  if  Mr.  Alick  will  take  care  of  me.' 

^  That  I  am  sure  he  will,'  remarked  Mr.  Cohen ; 
and  Alick  jumped  up  and  ran  off  with  Charley  to  the 
farthest  corner  of  the  deck. 

*  Have  you  been  reading  ?  asked  the  child,  eagerly. 

^  Plenty,  Charles :  and  well  I  may,  for  the  whole 
book  is  about  us,  the  people  of  God,  and  nothing  else.' 

'  We  are  the  people  of  God  too,  Mr.  Alick.' 

"  Then  why  is  there  nothing  about  you  in  the 
Bible  V 

'  There  is  plenty  about  us  in  the  New  Testament. 
We  are  the  children  of  Abraham  by  faith,. as  you  are 
by  birth.' 

'  But  Abraham's  faith  was  quite  different  from 
yours.' 

'  No,  it  was  the  same.  You  know,  the  Lord  Jesus 
says  to  the  unbelieving  Jews,  '  Your  father  Abraham 
rejoiced  to  see  my  day  ;  and  he  saw  it,  and  was 
glad." ' 

'  That  proves  nothing,  said  Alick,  fretfully.' 

'  Do  you  think  Abel  went  to  heaven,  Mr.  Alick  ?' 

'  What !  the  son  of  Eve,  whom  his  brother  slew  ? 
yes,  I  have  no  sort  of  doubt  as  to  that,  poor  fellow.' 

^  And  Enoch  did,  we  are  sure  ;  and  Noah,  and  all 


105 

that  loved  God  before  Abraham's  time  ;  but  none  of 
them  were  Jews,  for  Abraham  was  the  first.' 

Alick  felt  ashamed  to  be  so  easily  corrected  by  a 
mere  infant :  Charles  continued :  ^  If  good  people 
were  saved  before  there  were  any  Jews  in  the  world, 
why  not  now,  Mr.  Alick  V 

'  Fickle  boy  !  Yesterday  you  were  all  for  the  Jews, 
and  now  you  turn  against  us.' 

'  No ;  but  I  was  saying  something  to  Mamma,  very 
much  like  that  you  said  to  me  just  now  ;  and  so  she 
reminded  me  of  Abel,  and  the  rest  of  God's  Gentiles, 
you  know.' 

Alick  looked  steadfastly  in  the  smiling  face  of  the 
child,  and  after  a  moment's  pause  warmly  said,  '  Well, 
Charles,  if  it  please  God  to  fulfil  his  merciful  pro- 
mises to  Israel  while  you  and  I  live,  I'll  share  with 
you  every  blessing  I  get  in  that  good  land.  And  I'll 
tell  you  something  more,  my  boy :  you  talk  of  per- 
suading the  Jews  to  become  Christians ;  if  ever  that 
be  done,  it  will  be  by  such  people  as  you  and  your 
dear  Mother,  with  hearts  full  of  love,  and  lips  full  of 
kindness  to  the  Jews : — to  ''  Zion  whom  no  man 
seeketh  after,"  '  he  added  in  a  lower  tone,  and  turning 
in  the  direction  of  the  city  he  was  beginning  so  deeply 
to  yearn  over. 

Charley  laughed  with  pleasure  :  ^  How  nice  it  is  to 
hear  you  talk  like  the  Bible,  Mr.  Alick?  you  did  not 
talk  like  the  Bible  when  I  saw  you  at  first.' 

^  Because  I  did  not  think  like  the  Bible,  Charley. 
Oh,  how  I  wish  you  could  talk  to  me  in  Hebrew!' 

'  Sure,  ain't  I  learning  it  as  fast  as  I  can?  Mamma 
gives  me  a  lesson  every  day.     Stop,  I'll  be  back  in 


106 

less  than  no  time,'  cried  the  merry  httle  fellow,  as  he 
hounded  away,  and  hurried  down  to  his  cabin ;  whence 
he  presently  returned  with  a  Hebrew  grammar,  and  a 
Psalter  in  the  same  language. 

While  Alit  k  with  dehglit  bent  over  him,  and  cor- 
rected the  few  inaccuracies  of  pronunciation  w'\i\i 
which  he  went  over  an  easy  little  lesson,  Mr.  Cohen 
and  Ben  Melchor  approached;  the  former  saying, 
'  That's  right,  Alick ;  you  could  not  be  better  em- 
ployed:' then  glancing  over  the  child's  head,  he 
exclaimed,  ''  Hey-dey !  why  you're  teaching  him 
Hebrew.  That's  urging  oi>  the  march  of  intellect  in 
double  quick  time.  Had  you  riot  better  begin  with 
English  V 

^  He  reads  English,  sir,  as  well  as  I  do :'  said 
Alick,  proud  of  his  young  friend's  acquirements ; 
*  and  I  have  only  now  discovered  that  he  is  making 
a  progress  in  Hebrew,  wonderful  for  his  very  tender 
years.' 

^  I  can  speak  Irish,  too,'  said  Charley,  the  innate 
pride  of  whose  heart  was  roused  by  all  these  commen- 
dations. 

'  And  who  taught  you,  my  brave  fellow?'  asked  Mr. 
Cohen. 

*  I  learnt  Irish  among  the  people  at  home  at  our 
place  near  Cork.  Nurse  talked  it  more  than  Enghsh. 
Papa  thought  me  too  young  for  Hebrew ;  but  I 
coaxed  Mamma  to  let  me  try  a  little  bit,  and  sure  it's 
easy  enough!'  Then  with  no  small  self  complacency 
he  opened  his  Psalter,  and  read  of['  a  verse  very  cor- 
rectly. 

*  He  is  evidently  a  genius,'  observed  Mr.   Cohen  ; 


JUDAll  S    LION.  107 

% 

'but  his  father  is  right,  and  tlie  mother,  as  women 
usually  are,  is  wrong.  French  would  be  far  more  use- 
ful to  him.' 

Charley,  whose  cheeks  had  crimsoned  on  hearing 
his  mother  blamed,  now  looked  up  at  the  reprover, 
and  said  with  some  bitterness,  '  God  didn't  write  the 
Bible  in  French.' 

The  sudden  pressure  of  Alick's  arm,  which  was 
round  him,  as  he  sate  on  his  knee,  and  which  proba- 
bly indicated  a  wish  to  caution  him,  induced  him  to 
turn  and  clasp  the  neck  of  the  youth,  ejaculating  in 
the  same  breath,  '  He  wrote  it  in  Hebrew,  didn't  he, 
darling  V 

'  Upon  my  word,'  said  Mr.  Cohen,  turning  to  Ben- 
Melchor,  '  this  is  a  most  extraordinary  child.' 

The  Talmudist,  in  w^hose  countenance  strong  pas- 
sions had  been  working  all  along,  now  burst  out  in 
fierce  invective  against  the  infidel  Goim,  who  were 
using  the  holy  language  as  a  snare  to  destroy  the 
souls  of  Israel ;  and  on  whom  he  invoked  all  the 
curses  of  the  law,  with  such  loudness  of  voice  and  ex- 
travagance of  gesture,  that  Charley  clung  to  his  friend 
in  terror,  hiding  his  face  in  the  vest  of  Alick,  who  trem- 
bled as  much,  though  from  a  different  cause.  Mr. 
Cohen  strove  to  slip  in  a  few  qualifying  words,  but  to 
no  purpose.  Hebrew,  Arabic,  Italian,  were  all  put  in 
requisition  by  the  enraged  Jew ;  and  at  last  he  had  re- 
course to  English,  in  which  he  was  obliged  to  speak 
slower,  while  uttering  fearful  blasphemies  against  the 
Name  at  which  every  knee  shall  bow.  On  hearing 
this,  the  little  Christian  boy  lifted  up  his  head,  and, 
still  keeping  fast  hold  of  Alick,  looked  round,  exclaim- 


108 

ing  in  a  shrill  cry,  ^  You  are  a  wicked  man  to  speak 
against  the  Lord  Jesus !' 

The  Jew  redoubled  his  invectives,  and  Charley, 
with  all  the  fire  of  his  race  fully  kindled,  fixed  a  stern 
look  in  the  distorted  countenance  of  the  blasphemer, 
saying,  '  He  is  your  King  for  all  that,  and  he  will 
judge  you.' 

'  Little  serpent !'  said  the  Jew,  in  a  suppressed  tone, 
more  frightful  than  his  former  vociferations,  '  I  could 
toss  thee  upon  the  wave,  and  send  thee  to  Gehenna, 
ere  thou  doest  more  mischief 

'  Do  !'  said  Charles,  jumping  off  Alick's  knee,  '  Do 
if  you  like  !  Little  Cyril  was  no  bigger  than  me  when 
he  was  a  martyr  for  the  name  of  the  dear  Lord  Jesus 
Christ :  and  if  you  kill  me,  I'll  only  go  the  sooner  to 
him.  He  is  your  Messiah !'  For  a  moment  he  kept 
his  eye  on  the  face  of  the  threatener  ;  but  it  was  too 
much  for  his  infant  strength  :  he  threw  himself  again 
into  Alick's  arms,  and  sobbed  and  cried  most  piteously. 

Mr.  Cohen  was  a  man  of  sense,  and  of  generous 
feeling  so  far  as  he  allowed  himself  to  feel ;  he  was 
also  a  fond  father  and  a  perfect  gentleman,  and  all 
these  things  combined  to  make  him  unusually  angry 
on  poor  little  Charley's  behalf  Before,  however,  he 
could  express  his  indignation,  a  new  turn  was  given  to 
the  matter  ;  for  some  of  the  Jew's  Italian  remarks  had 
reached  the  ear  of  the  sailors,  who  called  up  the  Cap- 
tain from  a  devotional  office  before  his  image.  Tlieir 
looks,  to  which  Mr.  Cohen  failed  not  to  direct  Bcn- 
Melchor's  attention,  wrought  a  great  change  in  his  as- 
pect: the  fate  that  he  had  contemplated  for  little 
Charles  was  not  unlikely  to  overtake  himself,  if  he  ex- 


JUDAH'S    LION.  109 

asperated  those  wild-looking  devotees.  He  bent  his 
eyes  to  the  ground,  and  stood  silent,  while  Mr.  Cohen 
soothed  the  irritated  mariners,  by  assuring  them  that 
the  remarks,  which  he  said  must  have  been  imper- 
fectly heard,  had  no  reference  whatever  to  their  reli- 
gion. This  excuse,  backed  by  a  hint  of  some  intended 
largess,  as  a  compensation  for  the  wound  their  pious 
feelings  had  suffered,  though  needlessly,  had  the  de- 
sired effect :  and  Mr.  Cohen  haughtily  told  Ben-Mel- 
chor  he  might  be  thankful  to  escape  with  no  worse 
than  a  pecuniary  infliction :  then  left  him  to  his  reflec- 
tions. 

But  why  had  Alick,  the  fiery  Alick,  been  silent? 
Had  he  no  sympathy  with  the  courageous  fidelity  of 
his  little  companion,  no  pity  for  his  natural  terrors  ? 
More,  much  more  than  this  was  swelling  in  Alick' s 
bosom :  the  expressions  that  roused  the  child's  resent- 
ment had  smote  on  his  heart,  making  it  recoil  as  from 
something  dreadful;  while  the  words  of  the  baby  mis- 
sionary, '  He  is  your  King,  and  he  will  judge  you : 
He  is  your  Messiah,'  seemed  to  awaken  an  echo  there. 
Overpowered  by  the  consciousness  that  a  belief  which 
his  people  held  so  deeply  accursed  was  fast  gaining 
on  him,  he  felt  paralyzed :  and  the  child's  momentary 
boldness,  his  spring  upon  the  deck,  his  fearless  bear- 
ing in  the  face  of  an  opposer  so  formidable,  and  the 
reference  to  a  martyr  of  his  own  age,  all  struck  the 
young  Jew  as  something  supernatural,  sent  to  confirm 
his  wavering  thoughts.  When  the  seamen  approached 
with  looks  so  evidently  hostile,  he  lifted  Charley  in 
his  arms,  ran  down  to  his  mother's  cabin,  and  saying, 
'  There  ;    thank  God  for  what  he  has  given   you,' 

10 


110 

hastened  back  in  time  to  hear  his  father's  plausible 
excuse,  and  to  witness  the  retreat  of  the  crest-fallen 
Ben-Melchor  ;  after  which,  Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  Alick, 
a  sad  insult  has  been  put  on  that  nice  woman  in  the 
person  of  her  little  son.  We  really  must,  as  gentle- 
men, disclaim  any  participation  in  the  vulgar,  violent 
prejudices  of  this  strange  fellow.  Come  down  with 
me  to  her  cabin.' 

Alick  obeyed,  half  reluctantly  indeed  ;  for  nothing 
was  so  insupportable  to  him  as  the  idea  that  some- 
thing might  lead  to  a  prohibition  of  farther  intercourse, 
Mr.  Cohen  sent  in  a  most  polite  request  for  five 
minutes  audience,  by  Mrs.  Ryan's  servant:  and  on 
being  admitted  they  found  that  lady,  witli  traces  of 
tears  on  her  cheeks,  and  Charley  looking  most  sorrow- 
fully downcast  in  a  corner  of  the  little  apartment. 
An  ample,  and  indeed  a  very  feeling  apology  was 
immediately  tendered  by  Mr.  Cohen,  to  which  she 
warmly  replied  that  it  was  wholly  unnecessary,  since 
she  could  not  for  a  moment  believe  that  it  was  other- 
wise than  painful  and  distressing  to  them  to  witness 
what  no  one  could  have  prevented.  She  added  that 
her  chief  regret  was  on  Charley's  account,  who  by  his 
own  confession  had  shown  a  very  improper  spirit  in 
replying  to  what  was  so  wTathfully  spoken. 

'  My  dear  Madam,  you  astonish  me.  The  boy's 
spirit  was  admirable  ;  and  though  of  course  I  could 
not  take  this  view  of  the  question,  right  proud  should 
I  be  to  have  a  boy  twice  his  age,  equally  bold  and 
faithful  to  his  convictions.' 

^  Charles,  come  hither,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan ;  and  the 


Ill 

little  fellow  came  to  her  knee,  '  Did  you  speak  the 
truth  to  the  person  who  was  reviling  our  Lord  T 

'  Yes  Mamma,  I  did.' 

^  Did  you  speak  it  in  love,  Charles?  Did  you  bear 
in  mind  that  "  the  man  of  God  must  not  strive,  but  be 
gentle  unto  all  men  ;  patient  j  in  meekness  instructing 
them  that  oppose  themselves  ;"  and  did  you  as  far  as 
a  little  boy  could  do,  exhibit  the  spirit  of  a  man  of 
God?' 

Charles  hung  his  head. 

^  What  did  our  Lord  do  when  he  was  reviled  ?' 
Charles  looked  up,  and  softly  repeated,  '  "  Who,  when 
he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again;  when  he  suffered, 
he  threatened  not ;  but  committed  himself  to  him  that 
judge th  righteously."  Please  forgive  me  !'  he  added, 
looking  round  with  tearful  eyes. 

^  I  profess  myself  wholly  unable  to  see  what  there 
is  to  forgive,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  with  some  warmth. 
^  My  countryman,  a  great  fellow,  with  a  formidable 
countenance,  talked  of  pitching  this  child  into  the  sea 
around  us,  which  he  could  have  done  in  a  moment, 
(you  need  not  look  so  fierce,  Alick,)  and  instead  of 
running  away,  or  screaming  out  with  terror,  the  gal- 
lant little  fellow  faced  him  most  manfully,  declaring 
his  readiness  to  lay  down  his  life  for  what  he  believes 
to  be  the  truth.  I  repeat,  were  he  mine,  I  should 
glory  in  him :  and  richly  reward  him  too.  I  will  not 
any  longer  intrude  on  you,  dear  Madam,  but  permit 
me  to  hope  that  you  will  join  us  on  deck  in  the  even- 
ing, when  we  shall  pass  the  noble  spectacle  of  the 
ancient  Sunium,  and  I  need  not  add  that  no  annoy- 
ance will  be  suffered  to  approach  you.' 


112 

Mrs.  Ryan  promised :  and  heartily  thanked  him  for 
his  kindness  to  her  and  the  child,  as  he  took  a  friendly 
leave  ;  then  turning  to  Alick,  who  still  sat  absorbed  in 
thought,  she  said,  your  father  is  all  benevolence  and 
real  courtesy,  Mr.  Cohen.' 

But  Alick's  pent-up  emotion  could  bear  restraint  no 
longer ;  he  burst  out  into  sudden  vehemence,  exclaim- 
ing, '  Oh  Mrs.  Ryan,  I  cannot  bear  to  hear  that  Name 
reviled !  Nobody  must  do  it,  nobody  shall  do  it  in 
my  presence — I  can't  bear  it,  and  I  won't  bear  it !' 
and  he  started  up  and  threw  himself  into  another  seat, 
while  Mrs.  Ryan  gazed  in  silent  surprise,  and  Charley 
running  to  him  said,  '  Why,  do  you  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  ?     Do  you  ?  do  you  V 

'  I  don't  know  that  I  love  him,  but  he  was  good  and 
merciful ;  though  he  is  not  my  Messiah.' 

*  Either  your  Messiah,  or  a  deceiver,  an  impostor, 
and  a  blasphemer,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  firmly  and  so- 
lemnly. '  He  applied  him.self  to  all  the  predictions  of 
the  prophets,  he  declared  himself  the  Son  of  God,  the 
King  of  Israel,  the  I  AM,  the  Pre-existent,  before 
Abraham  was,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world — 
that  world  of  which  he  announced  himself  to  be  the 
final  Judge.  No,  Mr.  Cohen,  there  is  no  middle  way : 
either  the  strongest  expressions  of  your  countryman 
fall  far  short  of  the  truth,  or  else  he  of  whom  we  speak, 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  is  your  own  Messiah,  your  Saviour, 
your  King,  and  your  God.' 

^  Mrs.  Ryan,  don't  say  any  more ;  I  will  not  rest  till 
this  point  is  settled  in  my  mind  ;  but  my  head  is  too 
bewildered  to  think  at  present.  Don't  speak  about  it 
when  my  father  is  by  ;  for  though  he  is  so  liberal  he 


113 

might  forbid  my  conversing  with  you :  he  did  on  a 
former  occasion  with  one  who  first  taught  me  to  think 
on  these  subjects.' 

'  Then  you  have  been  spoken  to  before  V  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Ryan  eagerly. 

'  Yes :  by  the  person  who  gave  me,  or  rather  lent 
me  the  English  Bible,  on  board  the  ship  we  came  over 
in.  It  arose  from  his  saying  that  the  third  Lion  in 
our  British  arms  was  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.' 

'  Oh,  I  do  hope  it  is !'  cried  Mrs.  Ryan.  '  It  would 
indeed  be  a  token  of  security,  honour,  and  triumph 
for  England,  if  her  standard  bore  that  unconquerable 
badge.' 

Towards  sunset,  the  voyagers  assembled  on  deck, 
where,  by  Mr.  Cohen's  orders,  a  handsome  awning 
had  been  put  up,  and  refreshments  set  out,  to  which 
Mrs.  Ryan,  Charley,  and  Ben-Melchor  were  invited. 
The  latter  appeared  anxious  to  render  himself  more 
agreeable  to  his  companions,  who  avoided  any  recur- 
rence to  the  past,  and  all  was  cordiality  and  good- 
humor.  They  obtained  a  splendid  view  of  the  re- 
markable spot  which  Mr.  Cohen  was  so  anxious  to 
survey, — Cape  Colonna,  from  the  bold  high  cliff  of 
which,  abruptly  rise  the  marble  pillars  that  once  sup- 
ported a  magnificent  temple  of  Minerva.  Bathed  in 
the  light  of  a  western  sun,  these  beautiful  ruins  shone 
like  burnished  gold,  extorting  exclamations  of  delight 
from  more  than  one  of  the  party. 

'  How  imposing  is  that  desolate  wreck  of  the  glories 
of  ancient  Greece  !'  said  Mr.  Cohen.  '  It  is  the  first 
object  that  has  really  interested  me  since  I  left  home. 
The  familiarity  acquired  in  early  days  with  these  classic 

10* 


114 

scenes  and  names,  invests  them  with  an  endearing 
claim  on  the  affections,  so  that  the  first  gaze  fixed  on 
them  seems  rather  the  recognition  of  something  long- 
loved  and  lost,  than  the  discovery  of  a  new  object.  I 
am  looking  on  Sunium,'  he  added,  '  andhowprohficis 
imagination  in  filling  out  what  now,  alas !  is  lacking  to 
that  bare  but  lovely  outline,  and  peopling  the  solitary 
cliff  with  forms  of  armed  warriors,  and  of  white-stoled 
priests ;  while  the  song  of  devotion,  and  the  shout  of 
defiance  seem  borne  in  mingled  power  over  these  now 
silent  waters.' 

'  Will  Greece  ever  rise  again  to  any  eminence 
among  the  nations  ?'  asked  Alick. 

*  Not  under  its  present  government,*  replied  Mr. 
Cohen  ;  *  nor  while  the  character  of  her  sons  continues 
so  miserably  deteriorated.  The  ancient  spirit  of  free- 
dom must  be  rekindled,  with  all  its  glowing  patriotism 
and  scorn  of  wrong,  ere  we  can  look  to  witness  another 
Marathon.' 

After  a  few  more  remarks  on  the  past  and  present 
state  of  Greece,  the  conversation  turned  on  the  rela- 
tive position  of  Turkey  and  Egypt,  the  evident  pur- 
pose of  Mehemet  Ali  ultimately  to  throw  off  the  Sul- 
tan's yoke,  and  to  establish  an  independent  dominion, 
which  Mr.  Cohen  remarked,  he  would  extend  to  the 
uttermost  of  his  power. 

^  And  what,  in  that  case,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  *  is  to 
become  of  Syria  ?  what  of  Palestine  ?' 

Ben-Melchor  looked  at  her  for  a  moment,  then 
dropped  his  eyes:  but  the  glare  of  that  glance  was 
startling.  She,  however,  resumed.  ^  My  own  convic- 
tion is  strong  and  immoveable :    all  these  disputes, 


judah's  lion.  115 

these  conflicts  and  commotions  in  the  East,  are  hut 
the  means  which  God  will  overrule  to  accomplish  the 
restoration  of  his  chosen  people,  his  Israel,  to  their 
own  land.' 

Mr.  Cohen  looked  astonished,  Alick  dehghted,  and 
Ben-Melchor  averted  his  face. 

'  Tell  rne,'  she  resumed,  ^  do  you  not  yourselves 
look  for  this?' 

'  Why,  I  beUeve  the  expectation  has  always  been 
cherished  among  us,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  ;  '  but  I  cannot 
say  that,  as  yet,  I  see  any  indications  of  its  being  well 
grounded.  The  time  may  come,  though  not  in  our 
day :  meanwhile  we  have  little  to  complain  of  in  our 
present  state  ;  and  under  the  light  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  I  expect  the  few  remaining  prejudices  will 
wholly  subside,  and  we  shall  take  our  place,  divested 
of  all  invidious  distinctions,  among  the  nations  where 
now  we  hold  a  somewhat  unfavorable  and  anomalous 
position.' 

'  I  cannot  agree  with  you,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan.  '  The 
writings  of  Moses  and  the  prophets  distinctly  point  to 
a  national  restoration,  not  only  of  Judah  and  Benja- 
min, but  of  the  scattered,  long  lost  Ten  Tribes,  again 
to  inherit  the  land  which  God  gave  to  Abraham ;  to 
build  up  the  old  wastes,  to  restore  the  desolations  of 
many  generations ;  and  your  daily  services  in  the  syn- 
agogue so  hinge  upon  that  prediction,  that  you  can 
scarcely  point  out  a  prayer  which  does  not  plead  the 
promise  of  God  to  bring  you  back.' 

Alick  had  never  seen  his  father  look  so  perplexed  ; 
yet  there  was  not  much  dissatisfaction  in  his  counte- 
nance.    Mrs.  Ryan's  was  glowing  with  eager  anima- 


116  judah's  lion, 

tion ;  and  Ben-Melchor  looked  the  personification  of 
pride.     Mr.  Cohen  suddenly  turned  to  him,  and  said, 
'  You  are  hetter  ahle  to  decide  this  question  than  I.' 
'  What  question,  brother  V 

*  Whether  our  people  are  to  repossess  the  land  of 
our  fathers.* 

*  Is  yonder  sun  to  rise  again?'  asked  Ben-Melchor. 
^  Not  more  surely,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  than  Israel  is 

to  repossess  the  land :  for  the  Lord  has  said  that  if  the 
ordinances  of  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars  depart  from 
before  him,  then  may  Israel  cease  from  being  a  nation 
before  him,  for  ever  :  and  again,  ^  If  ye  can  break  my 
covenant  of  the  da)',  and  my  covenant  of  the  night. 
and  that  there  should  not  be  day  and  night  in  their 
season  ;  then  may  also  my  covenant  be  broken  with 
David  my  servant,  that  he  should  not  have  a  son  to 
reign  upon  bis  throne  ;  and  with  the  Levites  tho 
priests,  my  ministers."  And  once  more,  "  Thus  saith 
the  Lord ;  if  my  covenant  be  not  with  day  and  night, 
and  if  I  have  not  appointed  the  ordinances  of  heaven 
and  earth  ;  then  will  I  cast  away  the  seed  of  Jacob, 
and  David  my  servant,  so  that  I  will  not  take  any  of 
his  seed  to  be  rulers  over  the  seed  of  Abraham,  Isaac, 
and  Jacob :  for  I  will  cause  their  captivity  to  return, 
and  have  mercy  on  them."  ' 

'  If  those  words  are  in  our  law,'  said  Mr.  Cohen, 
*  they  are  very  encouraging.' 

*  The  words  are  truth!'  ejaculated  Ben-Melchor  ; 
^  the  Ho]y  One  (blessed  be  he)  hath  spoken  them.' 

'  Have  you,  sir,  a  copy  of  your  liturgy  with  you  ?' 
asked  Mrs.  Ryan,  who  seemed  roused  to  shame  the 
coldness  of  this  liberal  Jew. 


judah's  lion.  117 

*  Why  it  happens  that  in  looking  out  some  things 
for  this  trip,  I  transferred  a  prayer-book  from  my 
larger  trunk,  and  it  is  now  in  my  cabin.'  Without 
waiting  for  another  word,  Alick,  whose  caution  seemed 
all  to  be  forgotten,  flew  down  stairs,  and  brought  up 
the  liturgy  in  constant  use  among  them,  to  which  he 
had  never  given  the  smallest  attention.  Mrs.  Ryan 
took  the  book,  and  turning  to  the  concluding  part,  the 
office  of  the  Hosanna  Rabba,  read  as  follows :  '  The 
voice  of  (Elijah,)  who  bringeth  glad  tidings  and  said 
— Thy  salvation  will  I  strengthen  when  he  (Messiah) 
Cometh ;  it  is  the  voice  of  my  beloved,  coming,  and  1 
will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  him 
who  Cometh  with  myriads  of  saints,  standing  on  the 
mount  of  Olives,  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  of  him,  (Messiah,)  when  he  cometh  at 
the  sound  of  the  great  cornet  when  the  mountain  will 
divide  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the 
voice  of  him  (Elijah)  proclaiming  the  redemption 
from  captivity,  and  the  (Messiah)  coming  with  all  his 
pious  ones  with  him  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad 
tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  Bathkol  roaring  from 
Zion,  proclaiming  freedom  to  the  whole  world ;  and  I 
will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  com- 
passion pressing  on  the  seed  (Israel)  for  they  will  be 
deemed  innocent  as  infants  in  the  womb  of  their 
mothers;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.^^ '  She 
passed  over  a  few  words,  and  continued,  '  "  It  is  the 
voice  of  the  pure  one  who  worketh  and  beholdeth  all 
these  things  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It 
is  the  voice  of  salvation,  proclaiming  the  welcome 
period  of  the  earth's  acknowledging  the  unity  of  his 


118 

name  ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the 
voice  of  the  Mighty  One  of  heaven  and  earth,  ex- 
claiming, Can  a  nation  he  horn  at  once  ?  and  I  will 
declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  proclaiming 
the  period  of  redemption  ;  and  the  people  shall  see 
light,  ^  and  it  shall  come  to  pass,  at  even-tide  there 
shall  be  light,'  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It 
is  the  voice  of  the  Saviour's  going  up  to  mount  Zion, 
who  will  heal  the  sick,  and  will  redeem  the  children 
of  Zion,  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the 
voice  that  shall  be  heard  in  all  thy  borders,  to  enlarge 
the  places  of  thy  dwellings ;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad 
tidings.  It  is  the  voice  crying  to  make  thy  residence 
unto  Damascus  for  the  reception  of  thy  sons  and  thy 
daughters;  and  I  will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is 
the  voice  to  make  glad  the  rose  of  Sharon ;  for  they 
shall  rise  who  sleep  in  Hebron,  and  I  will  declare  the 
glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  crying.  Turn  ye  to  me, 
for  on  the  day  ye  hearken,  ye  shall  be  saved  \  and  I 
will  declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  the 
man  whose  name  is  the  branch,  and  this  selfsame 
branch  is  David ;  and  I  tvill  declare  the  glad  tidings. 
It  is  the  voice  proclaiming,  rise  ye  up  from  the  dust, 
awake  and  shout,  ye  who  inhabit  the  dust ;  and  I  will 
declare  the  glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  multi- 
tude praising  the  reign  of  the  Messiah,  making  great 
the  salvation  of  his  kingdom ;  and  I  loill  declare  the 
glad  tidings.  It  is  the  voice  exclaiming,  the  name 
of  the  wicked  shall  perish,  but  he  will  show  mercy  to 
his  anointed  one,  even  David ;  and  I  will  declare  the 
glad  tidings.     It  is  the  voice  of  granting  salvation  to 


119 

Ills  people  for  ever,  even  to  David  and  his  seed  to 
everlasting."  '* 

The  silence  that  reigned  while  the  lady,  with  equal 
solemnity  and  animation,  recited  this  remarkable 
portion  of  Hebrew  worship,  was  unbroken.  Her 
auditors  listened,  almost  breathlessly  ;  and  the  very 
sailors  as  they  passed  and  repassed,  trod  lightly  on 
the  planks.  Closing  the  book,  she  said,  '  This  is  your 
hope,  and  this  is  ours.  O  that  He,  the  God  of 
Abraham,  may  hasten  that  glorious  day  when  there 
shall  be  one  King  over  all  the  earth,  and  his  name. 
One  !  Do  not  forego  this  prospect :  do  not  let  the  poor 
advantages  that  may  be  obtained  among  Gentile 
nations  divert  your  eyes  from  looking,  your  hearts 
from  longing,  for  the  consolation  of  Israel.  The 
promise  is  given:  "though  it  tarry,  wait  for  it — it 
will  surely  come  and  not  tarry."  There,  Mr.  Cohen, 
is  your  book,  some  parts  of  which  are  indeed  con- 
trary to  Scripture  ;  but  there  are  very  few  prayers  in 
it  to  which  I  cannot  respond  with  a  fervent  amen  ;  far, 
far  unlike  are  they  to  the  idolatrous  abominations  that 
lately  on  this  very  spot  pained  our  ears,  insulting  the 
Most  High  God.  Oh,  that  you  would  seek  to  the 
Fountain-head  of  all  truth,  where  the  water  of  life 
flows  freely,  unmingled  with  man's  inventions !  Then 
should  5^ou  understand  the  counsel  of  the  Lord,  then 
should  you  clearly  see  what  precious  things  are  re- 

*  "  The  form  of  daily  prayers,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
German  and  Polish  Jews,  as  read  in  their  synagogues,  and  used 
in  their  families." — Printed  and  sold  by  Abrahams,  Hounsditch. 
A.  M.  5596. 


120 

served  for  you;  and  hear  indeed  the  voice  saying 
^'  Turn  ye  to  me,  for  on  the  day  ye  hearken  ye  shall 
be  saved!"' 

Without  giving  time  for  any  one  to  reply,  she  took 
Charley  by  the  hand,  and  with  an  obeisance  not  only 
courteous  but  respectful,  she  quitted  the  deck,  and  de- 
scended to  her  cabin,  to  pour  out  a  full,  and  on  this 
occasion,  a  thankful  heart. 

Alick  looked  at  his  father :  he  had  never  seen  him 
wear  so  solemn  an  aspect.  Mr.  Cohen  had  opened 
the  book,  and  was  attentively  reading  the  passage 
over.  Ben  Melchor  suddenly  exclaimed,  '  That  wo- 
man hath  studied  the  law,  which  was  not  made  for 
women  to  study  ;  yet  it  hath  given  her  wisdom :  she 
will  pervert  many.      Youth,  beware  of  her!' 

'  I  wish  he  may  never  meet  with  anything  more 
needful  to  beware  of,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  abruptly, 
'  Come  Alick,  I  want  you  to  read  to  me  :  we  have 
been  too  little  together  of  late,  considering  in  how 
small  a  space  we  are  cooped  up.'  Then,  bowing  to 
Ben-Melchor,  he  took  Alick' s  arm,  led  him  to  his 
cabin,  and  to  the  youth's  great  astonishment  desired 
hinn  to  begin  and  read  aloud  the  Hebrew  Liturgy, 
which  he  did  with  extreme  readiness,  and  with  in- 
creasing wonder  that  he  should  have  been  so  insen- 
sible to  its  bearing  on  the  point  that  of  late  had 
almost  exclusively  occupied  his  thoughts.  He  longed 
unspeakably  to  discuss  it  with  Mrs.  Ryan ;  and  in  the 
meantime,  after  leaving  his  father,  occupied  himself 
in  ascertaining  that  the  Psalms  and  other  scriptural 
portions  contained  in  that  book  exactly  corresponded 


121 

with  his  Hehrew  Bihle,  and  the  latter  with  the  Eng- 
lish. He  seemed  to  have  now  something  tangible, 
both  as  regarded  Judaism  and  Christianity,  and  re- 
solved to  make  use  of  it  in  deciding  the  momentous 
question,  of  which  he  felt  that  the  importance  hourly 
increased.    • 

11 


CHAPTER  IX. 

All  restraint  was  now  completely  removed,  as  re- 
garded the  main  subjects  of  Alick's  conversations  with 
Mrs.  Ryan  and  Charley.  It  was  a  plain  question 
between  them,  whether  real  Judaism  was  or  was  not 
Christianity ;  and  to  this  end  she  especially  urged 
upon  him  what  he  felt  to  be  a  very  powerful  argu- 
ment,— the  sinfulness  of  man's  nature,  of  which, 
through  the  application  of  God's  law  to  his  secret  con- 
science, he  already  began  to  feel  more  than  theoreti- 
cally convinced, — the  absolute  necessity  of  some 
atoning  sacrifice  for  that  guilt ;  and,  supposing  that 
any  one  could  really  believe  that  the  blood  of  bulls 
and  of  goats  had  power  to  take  away  sin,  the  compul- 
sory cessation  of  those  ordinances  prescribed  in  the 
Mosaic  law,  and  the  consequent  condemnation  of  the 
whole  world,  Jew  and  Gentile  alike,  for  seventeen 
centuries.  Having  established  this,  she  proceeded  to 
show  in  a  very  simple  and  beautiful  manner,  how 
perfectly  every  type  was  fulfilled  in  the  Lord  Jesus ; 
and  how  distinctly  he  is  set  forth  as  "  the  end  of  the 
law  for  righteousness  to  every  one  that  believeth," 
not  only  in  the  writings  of  the  Apostles,  but  of  the 
Prophets.  Alick's  mind  was  of  a  fine  order,  and  pe- 
culiarly fitted  for  deep  investigation  ;  and  being  now 
for  the  first  time  really  interested,  it  was  for  the  first 


judah's  lion.  123 

time  fairly  drawn  out :  so  that  the  present  topic  en- 
grossed it  with  exclusive  power.  Ben-Melchor  had 
distinctly  established  the  authenticity  of  the  Hebrew 
version  of  the  Old  Testament  which  Mrs.  Ryan  had 
given  to  him ;  but  at  the  same  time  denounced  his 
study  of  it,  in  that  pure  state,  as  contrary  to  the  law 
of  the  Rabbins  ;  his  father,  on  the  contrary,  assured 
him  that  it  was  very  frequently  used  among  the  Jews 
of  their  own  acquaintance  who  were  at  all  inclined  to 
obtain  credit,  as  he  said,  for  theological  learning  and 
piety :  and  that  their  little  devotee,  Esther,  was  con- 
stantly poring  over  it  in  her  retirement.  From  all 
this  Alick  gathered  that  he  might  with  perfect  con- 
fidence refer  every  question  to  its  decision,  and  as 
Mrs.  Ryan  was  well  pleased  to  do  the  same,  their 
arguments  went  mainly  to  establish  the  correspond- 
ence or  the  discrepancy  of  the  New  Testament  with 
the  Old.  One  great  advantage  was  gained  by  the 
early  acquaintance  into  which  Alick  had  been  brought 
with  the  idolatrous  errors  of  Popery :  he  could  himself 
disprove  many  of  them  by  very  plain  passages  in  the 
Bible  ;  and  she  took  occasion  'by  this  to  show  him 
how  similarly  unfounded  and  unscriptural  were  the 
doctrines  and  traditions  of  the  Talmudists. 

For  instance,  on  a  strict  fast-day,  which  occurred 
while  they  were  at  sea,  after  a  night  of  very  trouble- 
some navigation,  when  the  poor  sailors,  greatly  need- 
ing refreshment,  looked  quite  wan  and  dejected  for 
the  lack  of  it,  and  the  captain  was  particularly  audible 
and  voluble  before  his  image,  Alick  remarked  that  it 
was  doing  a  great  injustice  to  the  character  of  the 
Most  Merciful  to  suppose  that  He  could  take  any 


124  JUDAH^S   LION. 

pleasure  in  seeing  them  crawling  about  the  ship, 
hungry  and  uncomfortable.  Mrs.  Ryan  warmly  as- 
sented, and  added,  '  They  really  believe  it  is  an 
acceptable  service,  and  very  efficacious  in  atoning  for 
sin.' 

'  Well,^  said  Alick,  ^  they  did  not  learn  such  a  notion 
out  of  my  Scriptures,  at  any  rate,  whatever  the  other 
book  may  say.' 

^  The  other  book,'  rephed  Mrs.  Ryan,  ^  which  by 
the  way,  is  not  another,  says,  "  Bodily  exercise  pro- 
fiteth  little,"  and  stigmatizes  as  "  doctrines  of  devils" 
the  ^'  forbidding  to  marry  and  commanding  to  abstain 
from  meats."  ' 

*  Then,  so  far  we  agree ;  for  look  here,  what  Isaiah 
says,  "  Is  it  such  a  fast  as  that  I  have  chosen?  a  day 
for  a  man  to  afflict  his  soul  ?  is  it  to  bow  down  his 
head  like  a  bull-rush,  and  to  spread  sackcloth  and 
ashes  under  him  ?  wilt  thou  call  this  a  fast,  and  an 
acceptable  day  unto  the  Lord  ?"  ' 

'  Will  you  read  the  eleventh  verse  of  that  fifty- 
eighth  chapter?'  said  Mrs.  Ryan  eagerly:  *it  is  to 
show  what  shall  be  the  consequence  of  your  people's 
forsaking  these  empty  forms  of  erring  devotion,  and 
worshipping  and  serving  the  Lord,  according  to  liis 
own  will.' 

Alick  read — '  "  And  they  that  shall  be  of  thee  shall 
build  the  old  waste  places :  thou  shalt  raise  up  the 
foundations  of  many  generations,  and  thou  shalt  be 
called.  The  repairer  of  the  breach.  The  restorer  of 
paths  to  dwell  in."  This  refers  to  our  restoration, 
certainly ;  but  I  don't  see  how  it  applies  ;  for  we  are 
quite  free  from  such  Gentile  abominations.' 


judah's  lion.  125 

'  No,  she  replied,  '  look  at  your  prayer-book,  and 
read  in  the  afternoon  service  for  the  fast,  what  you 
appear  not  to  have  noticed.  It  is  at  page  37.'  Alick 
presently  found  it,  and  read,  ^'  Sovereign  of  the  Uni- 
verse !  it  is  clearly  known  unto  thee  that  whilst  the 
holy  temple  was  established,  if  a  man  sinned,  he 
brought  an  offering,  of  which  they  only  offered  its  fat 
and  blood,  yet  didst  thou  in  thine  abundant  mercy 
grant  him  pardon ;  but  now,  because  of  our  iniquities, 
the  holy  temple  is  destroyed,  and  we  have  neither 
sanctuary  nor  priest  to  atone  for  us.  O  may  it  there- 
fore be  acceptable  in  thy  presence  that  the  diminution 
of  my  fat  and  blood,  which  hath  been  diminished  this 
day,  may  be  accounted  as  fat  offered  and  placed  on 
the  altar,  and  thus  be  accepted  of  me."  '  I  can't  say 
that  I  like  that,  Mrs.  Ryan :  really  it  does  savour  of 
Popery,  I  am  sorry  to  confess.' 

'  True,  and  it  does  not  savour  of  the  Bible ;  for 
look  how  the  Lord  rejects  something  very  similar  to 
it,  Micah  vi.  6 — 8.  "  Wherewith  shall  I  come  before 
the  Lord,  and  bow  myself  before  the  high  God  ? 
shall  I  come  before  him  with  burnt-offerings,  with 
calves  of  a  year  old  ?  Will  the  Lord  be  pleased  with 
thousands  of  rams  or  with  ten  thousands  of  rivers  of 
oil?  shall  I  give  my  first-born  for  my  transgression, 
the  fruit  of  my  body  for  the  sin  of  my  soul  ?  He  hath 
showed  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good ;  and  what  doth 
the  Lord  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love 
mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God?" 

'  That,'  said  Alick,  ^  does  away  with  sacrifices  of 
every  kind,  and  provides  no  atonement  at  aU,  but  a 
man's  good  works.' 

II* 


126 

*  O  far,  far  from  it.  ''  He  hath  showed  thee,  O 
man,  what  is  good,"  the  alarmed  soul  is  directed  to 
some  revelation  of  God,  providing  the  remedy  that 
he  would  vainly  purchase  by  the  blood  of  beasts,  or 
that  of  his  own  flesh  ;  and  upon  this  text  alone,  Mr.' 
Cohen,  I  can  rest,  to  prove  the  utter  insufficiency  of 
all  that  man  can  do — the  certainty  that  God  has  done 
for  him  what  he  never  could  achieve  for  himself  To 
ascertain  what  this  was,  turn  to  the  fifty-third  of 
Isaiah.' 

But  Charles  had  already  found  the  chapter,  and 
his  sweet  little  voice,  reading  it  throughout,  gave  the 
utmost  effect  to  its  touching  words. 

In  this  way  Mrs  Ryan  proceeded,  at  once  vindica- 
ting Christianity  from  the  abominations  of  Popery,  and 
Judaism  from  those  of  the  Talmud.  Mr.  Cohen  mean- 
while, encouraged  Alick  to  talk  to  him  on  the  subject 
of  their  own  faith,  and  even  allowed  him  to  read  those 
passages  from  the  prophetic  writings  which  positively 
foretel  the  restoration  of  Israel  to  their  own  land.  On 
one  occasion,  he  said,  '  You  must  curb  your  enthusiasm 
my  dear  boy  :  whatever  pleasant  dreams  you  may  in- 
dulge in,  as  to  that  far  distant  period  of  which  our  holy 
prophets  certainly  speak  very  clearly  :  remember,  our 
present  business  is  with  our  own  times,  and  the  men 
of  our  own  times  ;  an  advancement  among  the  nations 
such  as  we  are  looking  for  in  England,  where  places 
of  high  trust  and  honour  will  not  long  be  closed  against 
us,  is  worth  seeking,  if  only  to  facilitate  the  events  on 
which  your  heart  is  so  much  fixed.  You  don't  want 
to  see  a  procession  of  old  clothesmen,'  he  added  smi- 


judah's  lion.  127 

ling,  ^  with  greasy  beards,  and  sacks  over  their  shoul- 
ders, returning  to  Jerusalem  V 

But  Alick  did  not  smile.  '  Father,  they  are  Jews, 
and  I  am  a  Jew,  and  to  Jerusalem  we  shall  all  return. 
It  may  be  in  a  depressed  and  humble  state,  that  in 
our  own  land  the  favor  of  God  may  first  shine  on  us 
to  raise  us  out  of  the  dust :  but  I  never  will  allow  that 
our  path  lies  upward  among  the  Gentiles,  crawling 
and  creeping  from  grade  to  grade,  till  we  attain  suf- 
ficient importance  to  restore  ourselves.  No,  no,  sir: 
we  shall  never  restore  ourselves — the  Lord  our  God, 
He  will  restore  us.' 

Mr.  Cohen  looked  at  the  youth's  erect  person,  his 
extended  arm,  and  animated  gesture,  and  secretly 
thought  what  a  fine  parliamentary  speaker  he  would 
one  day  become.  He  then  said  with  his  accustomed 
good-humour,  '  Well,  my  dear  boy,  far  be  it  from  me 
to  check  your  patriotic  feelings,  since  you  do  feel  that 
Jerusalem  is  indeed  our  country,  the  land  of  our  fa- 
thers, the  land  that  God  gave  to  Abraham,  and  wliich 
I  heartily  hope  will  be  restored  to  Abraham's  pos- 
terity. We  only  difier  as  to  the  way  of  its  accomplish- 
ment, and  probably  that  difference  arises  only  from 
my  longer  intercourse  with  this  matter-of-fact  world. 
I  have  been  an  enthusiast  myself,  Alick,  though  I 
confess  not  in  a  cause  so  high  as  what  you  are  en- 
gaged in  :  had  my  thoughts  been  turned  into  that 
channel,  'tis  not  improbable  that  I  might  some  thirty 
years  ago,  have  raised  a  Hebrew  corps  from  among 
the  most  despised  of  our  brethren  in  London,  and  un- 
dertaken the  re-conquest  of  Syria.  So  you  see  I  can 
make  allowances  for  your  sanguine  anticipations  of 


128     ~  judah's  lion. 

what,  possibly,  your  children  may,  in  their  old  age,  see 
the  beginning  of.  Be  as  national  as  you  please  :  if 
you  don't  serve  your  people  in  one  way,  you  may  in 
another.' 

'T)ear  father,  how  kind  you  always  are  to  me  !  It 
does  make  me  so  happy  to  find  you  willing  to  indulge 
m.e  in  talking  on  this  subject.' 

^  It  would  be  very  unnatural  in  -me  not  to  do  so, 
Alick.  To  say  truth,  I  am  the  more  willing  to  in- 
dulge you  in  talking  to  me,  because  you  so  readily 
and  honourably  gave  up  the  intercourse  with  a  person 
of  whom  I  could  not  approve,  on  board  ship.' 

Alick  coloured :  '  Indeed,  sir,  I  do  not  deserve  that 
commendation  ;  I  was  not  ready  to  give  up  his  society, 
but  he  himself  positively  refused  to  allow  me  to  carry 
on  the  acquaintance  against  your  will.' 

*  He  was  afraid  of  his  superior  officers.' 

'  No ;  he  proved  to  me  out  of  the  law  of  Moses  that 
to  disobey  my  parents  was  a  v^ery  great  offence  in 
God's  sight.' 

*  He  spoke  truth :  it  was  punishable  with  death.' 

'  So  he  told  me,  sir,  and  also  that  the  command,  so 
far  from  being  abrogated,  was  confirmed  by — by — 

'  By  the  Christian  religion,  I  suppose  ?  very  likely  : 
for  I  remember  seeing  in  a  church  the  law  of  the  ten 
commandments  very  conspicuously  displayed  in  gilt 
letters,  on  what  they  consider  the  most  sacred  part  of 
the  building.  I  am  glad,  however,  to  find  that  the 
old  seaman  was  so  honest.' 

Here  the  matter  dropped  :  but  Alick  had  got  a  new 
idea  out  of  which  to  frame  a  question  for  Mrs.  Ryan. 

'  Do  you  imitate  the   Temple,  and  the   synagogue 


judah's  lion.  129 

worship  in  your  churches  V  said  he.  ^  Have  you  the 
ark  there  V 

'  No  ;  what  makes  you  think  so  V 

*  Only,  my  father  was  talking  of  your  deeming  a 
part  of  your  churches  more  holy  than  any  other  part* 

^  Indeed  we  do  not ;  or  if  any  do,  they  have  no 
warrant  either  of  Scripture  or  of  our  church  for  their 
superstitious  notion.  There  is  a  table  in  all  our  places 
of  worship,  on  which  the  bread  and  wine  are  placed, 
at  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  this  table 
is  ordered  to  be  put  on  one  side  when  not  wanted. 
Unhappily,  most  of  our  older  churches  were  built  du- 
ring the  domination  of  Popery  ;  and  as  they  have  a 
pagan  altar,  and  a  recess  in  the  east  end  always  to  fix 
it  in,  surmounted  and  surrounded  with  such  things  as 
you  saw  in  the  captain's  cabin,  we,  for  convenience' 
sake  had  our  table  set  there  ;  and  to  fill  up  the  space 
that  was  stripped  of  the  idolatrous  images  and  pic- 
tures, we,  very  properly,  exhibit  the  ten  command- 
ments, of  which,  you  know,  one  solemnly  prohibits 
what  we  by  God's  grace  have  abjured.  Gradually 
the  bringing  of  the  table  out  into  the  chancel  or  body 
of  the  church  was  discontinued,  and  the  congregation 
directed  to  go  up  instead  ;  and  for  the  preservation  of 
articles  laid  upon  it,  and  to  prevent  inconvenient  pres- 
sure, a  railing  was  thrown  across.  From  this,  some 
ignarant  people  came  to  attach  a  sort  of  sanctity  to 
what  was  so  exclusive  :  and  the  error — as  error  always 
does — spread  a  good  deal.  The  table  is  called  even 
an  altar  by  some,  though  we  allow  of  no  sacrifice  but 
the  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving  offered  up  on  the  altar  of 
our  hearts,  and  made  acceptable  by  Christ's  sacrifice. 


130  judah's  lion. 

No  person  who  studies  the  Bible  can  be  led  away  into 
the  unscriptural  folly  of  attributing  to  any  one  part  of 
a  Christian  house  of  prayer  greater  holiness  than  to 
any  other  part ;  nor  can  a  person  who  reads  the  ca- 
nons and  other  formularies  of  our  church  convict  her 
of  countenancing  it.' 

'  I  am  glad  I  asked  yon,  Ma'am,'  said  Alick  ;  '  for 
to  confess  the  truth,  the  more  I  see  of  your  wide  sepa- 
ration from  this  disgusting  idolatry,  the  more  willing 
I  ani  to  listen  to  your  opinions.  I'm  sure  I  owe  a 
great  deal  to  you  :  I  have  learned  to  love  my  own 
people,  and  the  God  of  my  people,  i'ar  better  since  I 
listened  to  your  instruction  ;  and  if  I  don't  believe  all 
that  you  do,  it  is  because  I  have  not  yet  found  it  plainly 
declared  in  my  own  Scriptures,  which  I  know  to  be 
God's  word,  and  by  which  I  am  resolved  to  judge  of 
everything  I  hear.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  was  deeply  interested  by  her  young 
companion's  state  of  feeling  ;  and  rejoiced  at  the 
sturdy  determination  which  he  expressed,  to  believe 
nothing  that  militated  against  Moses  and  the  prophets. 
She  was,  however,  about  to  enjoy  the  assistance  of  a 
very  unexpected  auxihary  in  the  good  work.  Two 
days  after  they  passed  Cape  Colonna,  while  slowly 
bending  their  course  close  by  a  small  rocky  island,  a 
boat  was  seen  to  put  off  from  its  shore,  and  to  row  evi- 
dently towards  their  bark.  Alick  was  on  deck,  Charley 
on  his  knee,  watching  a  most  glorious  sunset,  and  plea- 
santly chatting,  when  this  boat  engaged  their  atten- 
tion, and  the  warning  of  the  steersmen  that  she  was 
making  for  them,  elicited  a  great  many  guesses,  and 
playful  remarks  as  to  who  could  be  coming  to  pay 


131 

them  a  visit.  ^  Some  nice  little  boy,  Charley,  to  romp 
about  with  you,  and  to  put  your  Jew  friend  into  a 
corner.' 

'  No,  Mr.  Alick,  nobody  can  do  that,  sure  they  can't ! 
Ah,  I  love  you  with  all  the  veins  of  my  heart ;  I  do, 
I  do,'  and  he  hugged  him  warmly. 

'Time  will  show,  Charley  ;  I'm  desperately  afraid 
of  a  rival.' 

.t  The  boat  neared,  and  soon  hailed  them,  and  a 
gentleman  stood  up,  at  sight  of  whom  Charley  gave 
a  sudden  start,  and  changed  color,  staring  at  Alick  in 
evident  perplexity  :  but  the  sound  of  a  loud,  cheerful, 
bold  voice,  asking,  in  not  very  perfect  Italian,  whether 
there  was  a  lady  on  board,  put  an  end  to  Charley's 
difficulties  ;  he  struggled  most  violently  to  get  free 
from  Alick,  who  held  him  fast  on  account  of  the  sud- 
den stir  on  board,  and  shrieked  out  '  Papa  !   papa!' 

A  very  few  seconds  elapsed  after  this  outcry,  ere  a 
fine,  officer-like  man  sprang  on  deck  ;  and  Alick,  not 
a  little  astonished  at  the  sudden  verification  of  his 
playful  prognostics,  allowed  the  boy  to  leap  from  his 
arms  into  those  of  his  delighted  father,  and  then  with 
a  right  creditable  feeling  ran  down  to  apprise  Mrs. 
Ryan  in  the  least  startling  way  he  could,  of  the  ar- 
rival of  her  husband,  and  hastened  to  his  own  little 
berth. 

His  first  feeling  was  one  of  vexation,  at  being  in- 
terrupted and  rivalled  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  inter- 
course with  his  friends :  but  this  gave  place  to  satis- 
faction in  the  prospect  of  such  an  addition  as  Captain 
Ryan  promised  to  be  to  their  party.  He  was  won- 
derfully pleased  with  his    trumpet-toned   voice,  the 


132 

elasticity  of  his  step,  the  spirit  of  his  movements,  and 
above  all,  with  the  fire  of  an  eye  that  melted  at  once 
into  the  softest  tenderness  when  his  little  boy  rushed 
towards  him ;  and  even  at  that  moment,  a  smile  of 
courteous  apology  seemed  to  crave  Alick's  indulgence 
for  his  young  charge's  rudeness,  and  to  thank  him  for 
his  care.  ^  He  is  a  ^ne  fellow,  and  a  nice  fellow,  or 
I  am  much  mistaken,'  thought  Alick  ;  '  and  I  can 
contradict  him  flat  in  an  argument,  instead  of  the 
round-about,  polite  way  I  have  to  contradict  the 
lady  in.' 

His  soliloquies  were  interrupted  by  Charley,  who, 
bouncing  in,  and  jumping,  said,  ^  No,  not  even  Papa 
shall  put  you  into  a  corner,  you  love  of  a  Jew  !  I'm 
come  to  tell  you  so :  and  Papa  says  you  are  the  broth 
of  a  boy,  for  taking  care  of  me  ;  and  he  will  love  you 
too.' 

'  The  broth  of  a  boy !  what's  that  ?  I  never  was 
boiled'— 

*  Oh  that's  an  Irish  saying.  Thej/  call  O'Connell 
the  broth  of  a  boy,  and  we  call  Mc'Ghee  the  broth  of 
a  boy.' 

'  Then  it's  a  compliment,  I  suppose :  but  without 
your  explanation  I  should  have  thought  it  a  question- 
able one.' 

Very  soon  afterwards.  Captain  Ryan  appeared  on 
deck  again,  where  Charley  had  led  his  friend,  and 
with  the  most  polished  suavity  of  manner,  combined 
with  great  frankness,  bowed  to  Alick,  then  extended 
his  hand,  and  warmly  thanked  him  for  his  care  of 
Charley  ;  adding,  •  His  dear  mother  says  you  have 
quite  taken  charge  him  ;  and  saved  him  from  many 


133 

an  hour's  confinement  to  the  cabin  below,  by  enabling 
her  to  feel  how  perfectly  safe  he  was  under  your 
guardianship.' 

'  Indeed,  sir,'  said  Alick,  ^  no  small  part  of  the  obli- 
gation is  on  my  side.  I  should  have  been  very  dull 
without  the  society  of  my  little  friend  and  his  mamma : 
and  much  more  ignorant  than  I  am,  but  for  their  in- 
structions,' he  added,  while  Charley's  eyes  danced 
with  delight,  as  he  looked  at  his  father ;  who,  fixing 
a  gaze  on  the  young  Jew  that  bespoke  a  feeling  of 
most  intense  and  affectionate  interest,  said,  '  My  dear 
Cohen,  the  hand  that  brought  you  together  in  this 
small  vessel,  is  one  that  does  nothing  in  vain.' 

Captain  Ryan  was  one  of  those  sensible  men  who 
know  that  by  an  instant  avowal  of  their  real  charac- 
ters and  feelings,  as  disciples  of  the  Lord,  they  shall 
save  themselves  much  probable  embarrassment,  and 
avoid  many  snares.  He  could  not  agree  with  some, 
who,  in  order  not  to  startle  or  alarm  prematurely 
such  as  they  hope,  nevertheless,  to  do  good  to,  hold 
back  the  distinguishing  badge  of  their  service,  and 
to  the  worldly  become  as  worldlings  that  they  may 
gain  the  worldly, — a  very  dangerous  and  mistaken 
parody  on  the  apostle's  proceedings  with  regard  to 
others.  He  never  lost  any  time  in  committing  him- 
self, that  he  m.ight  the  sooner  be  actively  engaged ; 
and  no  man  was  better  fitted,  as  to  natural  gifts,  for 
a  combat  of  the  kind — no  man  more  unreservedly 
threw  himself  on  divine  help,  and  the  wisdom  that 
Cometh  from  above.  He  was  exceedingly  energetic, 
full  of  vivacity,  perpetually  in  motion,  using  much, 
but  by  no  means  extravagant  or  affected  gesticulation. 


134  judah's  lion. 

In  his  language,  plain,  blunt,  and  with  a  constant 
vein  of  Irish  humour  that  sparkled  in  his  eye,  and 
played  about  his  smiling  mouth.  A  noble  forehead, 
with  a  profusion  of  sandy  hair,  that  defied  the  hand 
of  art  to  keep  its  curls  in  any  order.  Added  to  all 
this,  the  mihtary  gait,  and  quick,  comprehensive 
glance  that  seemed  to  take  in  all  around  him,  formed 
a  person  so  unlike  any  that  Alick  had  lately  seen,  or 
ever  associated  with,  that  he  was  perfectly  delighted, 
and  felt  a  most  longing  desire  to  plunge  into  all  the 
depths  of  the  subjects  that  exercised  his  Mind,  with 
a  person  so  evidently  able  and  willing  to  encounter 
any  antagonist.  '  I  like  these  Christians  more  and 
more,'  said  he  to  himself,  '  that  is,  the  Christians  who 
seem  to  understand  the  things  they  profess  to  believe  ; 
and  who,  because  they  think  themselves  in  the  right, 
try  to  make  others  agree  with  them  instead  of  des- 
pising them  for  differing,  or,  what  comes  to  the  same 
thing,  not  caring  whether  the  rest  of  the  world  go 
right  or  wrong.  What  noble  Jews  they  would  make, 
Gordon,  and  Ryan,  and  my  little  Charley  also:  but 
God  alone  can  make  a  Jew ;  so  it  is  of  no  use  my 
wishing  they  were  of  the  children  of  Abraham.' 
Alick  did  not  yet  know  that  God  alone  can  make  a 
Christian. 

It  was  a  beautiful  moonlight  night ;  and  as  Alick 
reclined  on  the  bulwarks,  musing  over  the  deep  blue 
sea,  after  the  usual  hour  of  rest,  he  was  surprised  to 
see  Mrs.  Ryan  approach,  leaning  on  her  husband's 
arm.  She  greeted  him  with  affectionate  warmth,  and 
said,  ^  You  see,  I  am  not  slow  in  availing  myself  of 
this  unexpected  privilege,  to  enjoy  what,  as  a  solitary 


135 

female,  I  could  not  indulge  myself  in — the  still  air 
of  night,  and  the  lovely  moonbeams  on  the  water.' 

^  I  have  often  regretted  it,  Ma'am,'  replied  Alick, 
'  when  I  have  sat  here  alone,  only  half  pleased  with 
the  beauties  that  surrounded  me,  because  I  had  no 
'jne  to  join  in  admiring  them.  I  don't  know,  though, 
whether  I  ought  to  regret  it :  for  I  assure  you  those 
lonely  hours  have  helped  very  much  to  fix  on  my 
mind  things  that  you  have  taught  me  during  the  little 
time  we  passed  together.' 

'  You  are  a  most  unprejudiced  fellow,'  said  Captain 
Ryan. 

'  Not  much  to  my  credit,  sir :  had  I  been  a  better 
Jew,  I  should  have  had  more  prejudices;  but  the  fact 
is,  I  was  neither  one  thing  nor  another.' 

'And  what  are  you  now,  Cohen?' 

'  A  Jew,  Captain  Ryan :  by  natural  descent  and 
inheritance  ;  by  profession  ;  and,  I  am  thankful  to  say, 
by  most  deliberate  choice  and  conviction  ;  if  it  were 
a  matter  where  a  man  might  choose  whether  he 
would  be  of  royal  blood  or  no.'  His  innate  pohteness 
made  him  blush  at  the  consciousness  that  he  had 
spoken  these  words  in  a  tone  and  with  a  manner  too 
haughty  for  his  years  ;  but  the  smile  that  they  eUcited 
from  his  friends  was  one  of  affectionate  gratification, 
and  he  felt  quite  at  ease. 

'  I  wish,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  ^  you  would  adopt  the 
language  of  a  countryman  of  yours,  who  was  exceed- 
ingly tenacious  of  the  high  privilege  in  which  you 
glory :  he  says,  "  We  that  are  Jews  by  nature,  and  not 
sinners  of  the  Gentiles,  knowing  that  a  man  is  not 
justified  by  the  works  of  the  law  but  by  the  faith  of 


136  JUDAH^S   LION. 

Jesus  Christ;  even  we  have  believed  in  Jesus  Christ, 
that  we  might  be  justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and 
not  by  the  works  of  the  law :  for  by  the  works  of  the 
law  shall  no  flesh  be  justified."  ' 

*  I  partly  understand  that,'  said  Alick,  thoughtfully, 
'  for  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  believe  that  the  works 
which  Ben-Melchor  thinks  so  needful  and  beneficial ; 
long  fasts,  exposure  to  cold,  prayers  recited  by  the 
dozen,  and  various  positions  of  body  to  be  gone 
through,  will  do  any  thing  towards  obtaining  God's 
favor  hereafter.' 

*  Ben-Melchor!  have  you  got  him  on  board?' 

*  Yes ;  do  you  know  him  V 

'  As  an  old,  most  subtle  antagonist :  he  has  often 
acted  the  part  of  Elymas,  in  seeking  to  turn  away 
some  enquirer  from  the  faith.  Beware  of  his  sophis- 
tries.' 

*  I  am  in  no  danger  from  him :  he  tries  to  dissuade 
me  from  reading  the  scriptures,  which  is  as  if  a  man 
in  the  dark,  going  to  look  for  some  treasure,  was  to 
begin  by  blowing  out  his  candle.' 

'  You  are  right :  hold  fast  that  doctrine,  for  it  is  the 
root  of  all  the  rest.  And  now,  since  you  admit  that 
the  way  of  justification  is  not  by  man's  doings  or 
deservings — in  Paul's  words,  "not  by  the  works  of  the 
law" — tell  me,  how  do  you,  in  your  own  person, 
expect  to  be  justified  before  God  V 

'  I  am  not  sure  that  I  exactly  understand  your 
meaning.' 

'  My  meaning  is  this :  you  are  mortal,  you  must 
die  ;  you  must  appear  before  God  to  give  account  of 
yourself:  you  are  a  sinner,  you  must  be  forgiven  your 


137 

iniquities,  and  moreover  counted  worthy  of  reward 
and  exaltation :  for  there  is  no  medium  ;  if  you  escape 
hell  you  must  enjoy  heaven.  Now,  Cohen,  how  will 
you  escape  hell — how  will  you  enter  into  heaven  ?' 

This  was  a  plain  question,  plainly  put.  Alick  had 
never  felt  so  startled,  so  perplexed.  Hitherto  his 
enquiries  had  rather  tended  to  the  abstract  question 
between  Judaism  and  Christianity  ;  and  temporal 
consequences — what  should  become  of  his  people? 
and  of  him  as  one  among  them,  were  his  principal 
object.  The  matter  was  now  brought  home  to  him : 
placed  in  a  new  light,  and  made  one  of  salvation  or 
destruction  to  himself.  He  had  no  answer  ready; 
and  before  he  could  frame  one.  Captain  Ryan  re- 
sumed, as  it  appeared,  very  irrelevantly  to  what  he 
had  last  said,  '  Tell  me,  Cohen,  to  what  cause  do  you 
attribute  the  prolonged  dispersion,  depression,  destruc- 
tion of  your  people  V 

Alick,  with  some  little  asperity  answered,  ^  I  know 
you  think  it  is  because  our  fathers  crucified  Jesus  of 
Nazareth.' 

'•  I  think  no  such  thing.  I  believe  and  am  sure  that 
the  calamities  which  overtook  Jerusalemi  and  her 
people  were  the  consequences  of  that  fearful  deed  ; 
but  far  be  it  from  me  to  say  that  "  the  fathers  have 
eaten  sour  grapes,  and  the  children's  teeth  are  set  on 
edge."  No  :  the  cause  of  your  continued  affliction  is 
your  still  stumbling,  from  generation  to  generation,  at 
that  "  stone  of  stumbling."  Israel  is  still  outcast, 
because  "  they,  going  about  to  establish  their  own 
righteousness,  would  not  subniit  to  the  righteousness 
of  God."     "  Because  of  unbelief  they  were  broken. 

12* 


138  judah's  lion. 

off ;"  "  and  they,  if  they  abide  not  in  unbeHef,  shall  be 
grafted  in  again."  Such  is  the  language  of  that  Jew 
whose  words  I  before  quoted.' 

'  You  surprise  me,  Captain  Ryan.  I  always  under- 
stood that  Christians  despise  and  abhor  us  entirely  on 
that  account.' 

'  I  know  it  is  a  common  error ;  but  an  error  it  is, 
having  no  foundation  in  Scripture.  I  repudiate  it ;  I 
hold  you  "  beloved  for  the  fathers'  sakes,"  as  a  peo- 
ple :  and  if  not  now  enjoying  God's  favour,  it  is 
because  you  will  not  look  to  Christ,  and  seek  salva- 
tion through  him.  The  promises  are  yours,  but  they 
are  of  no  avail  to  you,  being  impenetrably  sealed, 
with  seals  that  only  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  has 
power  to  open.  Ask  of  him,  and  he  will  remove  every 
impediment  to  your  full  possession  of  all  those  pre- 
cious promises.  Not  the  transgressions  of  your  fathers, 
but  your  own  transgressions  separate  between  you 
and  him.  When  you  know  him  as  your  Saviour,  and 
hail  in  him  your  long-expected  Messiah,  you  will 
indeed  mourn  in  bitterness  of  heart  the  cruelties 
heaped  on  him  by  those  whom  he  came  to  seek  and 
to  save  ;  but  for  the  present,  deal  with  him  only  as 
concerns  the  salvation  of  your  soul  j  believe  that  God 
hath  set  him  forth  as  a  propitiation  for  sin  ;  and  suffer 
not  the  question  to  slumber  till  you  have  satisfactorily 
solved  it  from  the  pages  of  the  Holy  Bible — how  you, 
shall  escape  hell ;  how  you  shall  obtain  an  inheritance 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.* 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  more  Alick  Cohen  pondered  upon  the  conver- 
sation that  had  passed  on  the  deck,  the  more  out  of 
humour  he  felt,  and  the  more  disposed  to  find  fault 
with  his  new  acquaintance.  The  home  question,  so 
plainly,  so  unexpectedly  put,  seemed  to  ring  in  his 
ears,  with  all  the  emphasis  of  earnest  interrogation 
that  had  marked  its  delivery.  He  had  no  answer ; 
and  in  such  cases  the  enemy  of  souls  ever  suggests 
evasions,  or  raises  objections  that  will  prevail  to  harden 
the  conscience,  and  to  seal  up  the  mind  in  deeper 
darkness  than  before,  if  a  stronger  than  he  be  not 
working  in  the  heart  of  the  sinner.  But  Alick's  case 
was  not  of  this  character:  two  devoted  servants  of  the 
Lord,  equally  anxious  for  the  soul  of  an  erring  brother, 
speaking  the  truth  to  him  in  love,  with  boldness  and 
simplicity,  then  together  pouring  out  prayer  for  a 
blessing  on  the  seed  so  cast,  will  shake  the  pillars  of 
Satan's  throne,  be  it  established  where  it  may.  The 
very  fact  of  it  being  brought  into  contact  with  an 
unconverted  person,  and  finding  both  will  and  oppor- 
tunity given  to  plead  with  him,  and  a  desire  to  seek 
the  Lord  on  his  behalf,  will  encourage  any  true 
Christian  confidently  to  believe  that  there  is  a  pur- 
pose of  mercy  towards  that  sinner,  and  that  the  set 
time  to  favour  him  is  come. 


liO  judah's  lion. 

Our  dear  young  Jew  could  not  account  for  the  ex- 
treme fretfulness  of  his  feehng  when  left  alone. 
*  Pho  !'  thought  he,  ^  why  need  I  trouhle  my  head 
with  the  officious  talk  of  a  stranger  who  knows  no- 
thing ahout  me  1  Of  course,  as  a  Jew,  this  upstart 
Gentile  thinks  I  must  needs  be  on  the  high  road  to 
Gehenna.  I  wonder  what  road  his  ancestors  were 
on,  when  mine  were  the  acknowledged  people  of 
Jehovah,  the  glory  and  the  terror  of  the  world !'  He 
took  one  proud,  striding  turn  upon  the  little  deck, 
while  a  vision  of  Jerusalem's  ancient  grandeur — her 
temple,  her  Sheckinah,  and  all  the  magnificence  of 
her  kingly  pomp  in  Solomon's  day,  shone  before  his 
mental  sight  ;  then  resumed  his  soliloquy — '  If  all 
these  glories  are  departed,  Zion  become  a  desolation, 
ploughed  as  a  field,  left  as  a  besieged  city,  a  lodge  in 
a  garden  of  cucumbers,  her  children  scattered,  peeled, 
become  a  proverb,  a  bye-word,  and  a  reproach — ex- 
posed to  the  taunts,  and  still  worse,  to  the  impertinent 
preaching  of  the  lowest  of  the  Goim  ;  if,' — here  his 
feelings  overpowered  him :  he  sat  down,  and  resting 
his  folded  arms  on  the  bulwarks,  laid  his  head  upon 
them,  murmuring,  '  Oh,  will  the  God  of  our  fathers 
never  forgive — never  restore   his  people  to  his  love  !' 

Tears,  which  had  seldom  dimmed  his  bright  joy- 
ous eyes,  stole  down  for  a  few  moments,  and  he  felt 
relieved.  *  Well,  I  am  wrong  to  blame  this  worthy 
man  for  wishing  me  well  after  his  way.  He  spoke  of 
the  Lion  too  ;  and  now  I'll  go  read  those  glorious  pro- 
phetic blessings  of  my  father  Abraham,  and  forget 
this  little  vexation.'  What  the  little  vexation  was, 
Alick  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  explain — it  was 


judah's  lion.  141 

simply  that  he  had  heen   asked  how  he  should  he 
saved,  and  he  could  not  find  an  answer ! 

To  the  book  of  Genesis  he  now  turned,  by  the  light 
of  his  friendly  lantern,  and  read  with  a  swelling  heart 
till  he  came  to  the  words,  "  The  sceptre  shall  not  de- 
part from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his 
feet,  until  Shiloh  come ;  and  unto  him  shall  the  gather- 
ing of  the  people  be."  Gen.  xlix.  10.     He  had  heard 
the  Christian  interpretation  of  this  passage  insisted  on 
more  than  once  by  his  Gentile  friends ;  and  now  it 
struck  him  with  a  force  that  quite  arrested  his  read- 
ing.    ^  I  will  know  the  meaning  of  this,'  said  he  ;  ^  I'll 
ask  my  father,  Ben-Melchor,  every  Jew  I  meet,  till  I 
get  at  the  right  inference.     The  sceptre  is  departed, 
the   lawgiver   has   ceased:  and   therefore    Shiloh   is 
come.     Shiloh  !  that  has  something  to  do  with  peace 
and  blessedness  ;  and  no  peace  for  poor  Israel  since 
her  sceptre  departed,  but  a  sword  drawn  out  after  us : 
no  blessedness,  but  a  curse.     Now  suppose,  just  for 
one  moment  suppose  the  Christians  were  right,  and 
that  Jesus  was — is  our  Messiah — (if  the  thought  be 
blasphemy  may  I  be  forgiven ! )  suppose  it  true  that 
we  rejected  him,  and  are  scattered  for  so  doing,  then 
it  would  follow  that  whenever  we  returned  to  him, 
our  blessings  would  return  to  us.     Time  Avill  show : 
meanwhile,  I  will  go  with  my  people.     When  they 
confess  him,  I'll  confess  him.      I'll  wait  for  that  time 
patiently ;  and  so.    Captain    Ryan,  your   question  is 
answered.'     He  resumed  his  reading ;  but  in  a  mo- 
ment after  a  dreadful  clash  was  heard,  the  planks 
vibrated  under  his  feet,  a  scream  followed,  and  he 
rushed  to  the  foreship  whence  it  proceeded ;  where, 


142  judah's  lion. 

also,  in  a  few  seconds  all  the  little  crew  were  assem- 
bled, together  with  the  gentlemen  from  below.  A 
heavy  mass  of  coiled  chain  had  fallen  from  its  posi- 
tion, and  under  it  lay  the  head  of  a  youth  about  his 
own  age,  a  young  sailor,  whose  cheerful,  good-hu- 
moured countenance  and  obliging  ways  had  rendered 
him  a  general  favourite.  With  all  speed  the  chain 
was  lifted  from  him,  but  a  bruised  and  bleeding  mass 
was  all  that  appeared  of  that  smiling  face  and  grace- 
ful head.  Instantaneous  destruction  had  overtaken 
him;  no  spark  of  life  remained  ;  and  as  the  specta- 
tors sadly  and  silently  drew  back,  leaving  the  youth's 
dead  body  in  the  hands  of  his  shipmates,  Alick  en- 
countered Captain'Ryan,  who  grasped  his  hand  with- 
out uttering  a  word,  and  casting  up  a  look  peculiarly 
humble  and  sorrowful  towards  heaven,  passed  on.  It 
was  wisely  done  to  refrain  from  speaking  at  such  a 
moment :  the  spectacle  before  them  was  the  voice  of 
Him  before  whom  man  must  be  silent.  Alick  assisted 
his  father  back  to  his  cabin,  surprised  and  alarmed  at 
the  extreme  tremor  of  a  robust  frame  which  he  knew 
enclosed  a  most  intrepid  spirit.  He  hastily  gave  him 
a  cordial,  after  which  Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  This  sea- 
sickness unnerves  a  man,  Alick  ;  but  indeed  the  stout- 
est might  tremble  at  being  startled  from  sleep  to  be- 
hold such  a  fearful  sight.  You  are  pale  and  cold  too, 
my  dear  boy  ;  take  a  glass  yourself  ResHly  you  think 
more  of  any  one  than  of  one  who  is  of  more  value 
than  half  the  rest.' 

'  Perhaps,  father,  that  poor  boy  was  of  far  greater 
value  than  I.     Some  widowed  mother  might  depend 


judah's  lion.  143 

on  his  aid ;  some  helpless  sister  may  be  left  unpro- 
tected.' 

*  God  is  good,  Alick :  we  must  hope  the  best' 

'  Ay,  father  ;  but  God  is  just  too  ;  and  how  terrible 
are  his  denunciations  against  idolatry!' 

Mr.  Cohen  was  silent:  Alick  expected  a  reproof 
for  his  illiberal  remark,  but  to  his  great  surprise  his 
father,  after  a  moment's  pause  said,  ^  In  truth  that 
was  what  caused  my  emotion.  Poor,  poor  fellow  ! 
I  heard  him  not  half  an  hour  ago  chanting  in  a  low 
tone  his  devotions  to  some  false  god  or  goddess.  I 
knew  his  fine  voice  well,  and  used  to  listen  with  plea- 
sure, and  really,  Alick,  my  conscience  smote  me  dread- 
fully to  think  I  had  found  gratification  in  what  has  cost 
him  his  soul.' 

*  Well,  father,  do  lie  down  now.  We  are  in  life, 
blessed  be  the  Holy  One  of  Israel !  and  may  we  never 
be  called  unprepared.' 

Mr.  Cohen  blessed  him — it  was  a  custom  that  he 
rarely  observed,  though  among  his  nation  generally  it 
is  regarded  as  a  regular  duty :  but  in  fact,  with  the 
exception  of  Esther,  Mr.  Cohen's  household  were 
Jews  but  in  name  and  race.  Alick's  heart  leaped  as 
he  heard  the  solemn  benediction  uttered  ;  he  kissed 
his  father's  hand,  and  retired  to  his  little  berth — the 
deck  he  did  not  wish  to  approach  ;  for  he  shrank  from 
encountering  again  that  horrifying  spectacle.  ^  Poor 
lad !'  thought  he  :  '  oh,  that  the  question  had  been  put 
to  him  which  was  put  to  me,  and  that  he  had  consi- 
dered it,  and  answered  it  in  time  !  This  is  a  warning 
to  me :  I  must  not  trifle  now — the  next  head  that  is 
crushed  may  be  my  own.' 


144  JUDAH*S   LION. 

He  stood  up,  and  with  a  lowly  spirit  he  prayed  to 
the  God  of  his  fathers  to  become  his  teacher.  He 
pleaded  the  mercy  shown  to  Abraham,  Isaac,  and 
Jacob  ;  and  all  the  rich  promises  to  their  seed.  He 
asked  to  be  kept  from  error,  and  to  be  made  willing 
to  receive  truth :  and  though  the  Name  that  is  above 
every  name  was  not  spoken  by  his  lips  in  that  whis- 
pered prayer,  his  heart  yearned  towards  the  Crucified, 
and  its  secret  language  to  him  was  that  of  the  doubt- 
ing suppliant.  *  If  thou  cans' t  do  any  thing,  havo 
compassion  on  us  and  help  us.' 

He  sat  down,  with  a  feeling  of  encouragement  quite 
new  to  him,  and  without  hesitation  began  to  read  the 
Gospel  of  St.  John.  The  decided  language  roused 
his  attention  more  than  anything  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment had  done.  "  The  Word  was  God. . .  The  Word 
became  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us. . .  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not ;  but  to  as 
many  as  received  him  to  them  gave  he  power  to  be- 
come the  sons  of  God.'  '  Why  ;  here  is  the  wholo 
matter  in  a  nutshell, — according  to  this,  Jesus  would 
be  God :  his  own,  that  is  the  Jews,  would  not  receive 
him,  and  were  cast  ofT:  otheis,  that  is,  the  Gentiles, 
received  him,  and  so  obtained  our  place  and  privi- 
leges. Can  this  be  ?'  He  read  on  and  came  to  the 
Baptist's  testimony — ^'  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God, 
that  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world!"  'That 
alludes  to  the  lamb  slain  in  sacrifice,  which  the 
Christians  say  was  a  type.  I  remember  the  Lion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  who  alone  was  worthy  to  open 
the  seals  of  the  book,  is  described  as  a  lamb  that  had 
been  slain:  and  Jesus  said  to  John,  "  I  am  He  that 


jtudah's  lion.  145 

liveth  and  was  dead,  and  behold  I  am  alive  for  ever- 
more." How  these  passages  do  dovetail  into  one 
another !  "  Taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world" — 
how  ?  not  in  the  lump,  I  should  think :  for  the  sacri- 
fices were  of  no  avail  except  to  those  who  observed 
them  as  an  ordinance  of  God.  The  Israelite  had  to 
lay  his  hand  on  the  animal's  head  and  confess  his 
own  sins,  in  order  to  partake  of  the  benefit ;  and  then 
they  were  carried  away  into  the  wilderness — carried 
away:  "  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world," — another 
coincidence.  So  then,  I  must,  if  this  be  truth,  have 
my  sins  taken  away  by  this  Lamb  of  God.  What 
sins  can  I  have  committed,  to  need  such  a  removal  V 

Here  was  the  turning-point :  Alick  closed  the  book, 
and  began  to  examine  his  past  life. 

He  had  no  settled  standard  by  which  to  measure 
himself;  at  last  he  thought  he  must  take  the  cere- 
monial law,  and  all  that  the  Jews  recognized  as  bind- 
ing on  them  for  the  purpose ;  but  it  struck  him  that 
the  Gentiles  who  had  by  receiving  Christ  become  sons, 
could  not  have  that  law  as  a  rule  ;  therefore  he  sought 
for  something  common  to  all  men.  He  recollected 
that  his  father  had  said,  and  Mrs.  Ryan  also,  that 
the  ten  commandments  were  exhibited  in  Christian 
churches,  an  universal  code  of  divine  law  ;  and  on  this 
ground  he  selected  the  precise  rule  by  which  any  true 
believer  would  have  directed  him  to  try  himself. 
Turning  to  Exodus  xx.  he  began,  and  the  reading  of 
the  first  commandment  afforded  him  perfect  satisfac- 
tion ;  *  I  neither  have  had,  nor  will  have,  any  othei? 
God  but  the  Lord  my  God,  who  brought  my  fathers 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage.' 

13 


146  JUDAIl's   LION. 

The  second  delighted  him  still  more,  ^  Oh,  I  am  not 
only  clear  in  tliis  matter,  but  I  have  borne  an  open 
testimony  in  the  public  streets  against  the  sin  of  idola- 
try. If  all  goes  on  like  this,  I  may  be  easy  enough.' 
The  third  startled  him.  '  Well,  I  have  used  that 
name  too  lightly,  in  a  moment  of  anger  or  levity,  I 
have  taken  it  in  vain  ;  may  the  Holy  One  forgive  me  !' 
He  v^ould  have  proceded,  but  w^as  unable.  '  This  is 
a  sin,  and  I  as  an  Israelite  should  have  to  confess  it  on 
the  head  of  the  animal,  to  be  forgiven.  Well  there's 
no  scape-goat,  nor  lamb  for  sacrifice  here,  so  how  can 
I  ?  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  which  taketh  away 
the  sin  of  the  world  !"  I  see  how  a  Christian  M^ould 
apply  it.  But  this  was  only  a  fault  of  the  tongue  : 
I  meant  no  sin,  and  surely  it  will  be  forgiven.  I 
won't  be  guilty  of  it  again.' 

He  read  the  fourth,  and  was  confounded,  '  I  know 
how  strictly  our  people  keep  this  day,  though  we  did 
not.  The  Christians  have  a  sabbath  too,  and  finely 
they  keep  it !  Men-servants  driving  their  carriages 
about ;  maid-servants  cooking  rich  dinners ;  cattle 
fagged  to  death;  and  the  stranger  within  their  .gates 
coming  and  going  by  means  of  such  poor  over-worked 
cattle,  and  feasted  by  the  labour  of  such  servants. 
Come,  we  can  none  of  us  plead  innocence  here.  If  I 
were  the  master  of  a  house,  I'd  ,feel  uncomfortable  : 
but  being  only  a  child  in  the  house.  I  could  do  no  other- 
wise than  my  parents  did,  who  have  run  in  the  face 
of  this  commandment  ever  since  I  can  remember, 
more  shame  to  them,'  said  Alick,  and  passed  on  to 
the  fifth. 

This  proved  a  terrible  blow  to  him :  he  had  always 


judah's  lion.  147 

loved  his  parents,  but  never  honoured  them,  until 
within  a  few  days  his  feelings  towards  his  father  had 
hecome  more  respectful — better  suited  to  his  deport- 
ment. He  was  a  spoilt  child,  and  managed  them 
both  by  finesse,  and  encouraged  the  younger  children 
to  carry  any  point  by  teasing.  Of  their  respective  in- 
firmities and  peculiarities  too  he  had  accustomed  him- 
self to  speak  very  freely  and  irreverently,  so  as  to  pro- 
voke many  rebukes  from  Esther,  and  not  a  few  from 
his  own  better  feeling.  In  short,  no  excuse  that  self- 
justifying  plausibility  could  frame,  would  avail  him 
here.  He  had  habitually  and  systematically  broken 
this  law — knowingly  too,  thanks  to  Esther  and  old 
Susan,  who  had  kept  him  perpetually  aware  of  his 
fault ;  and  how  to  get  rid  of  this  weight  he  knew  not. 
He  could  not  make  light  of  it,  as  he  had  done  of  the 
preceding  two:  and  his  distress  of  mind  was  great. 
He  scarcely  noticed  the  four  following,  but  the  tenth 
confounded  him.  '  Not  covet !'  he  exclaimed  ;  I  have 
coveted  everything  that  pleased  me,  no  matter  who  it 
belonged  to.  If  obtainable,  I  have  purchased  it ;  if 
not,  I  have  gone  on  coveting  and  secretly  murmuring 
about  it.  These  four  commandments  condemn  me  ; 
and  there  are  many  and  many  things  not  specified 
here,  which  I  know  to  be  sinfully  wrong,  yet  I  have 
done  them  times  unnumbered  ;  and  even  if  I  were 
forgiven  the  past,  I  fear  I  should  be  doing  the  same 
things  through  habit  or  thoughtlessness,  often  again. 
Oh,  for  a  lamb  to  take  away  all  these  sins ;  and  for 
help  to  do  right  in  future  !' 

The  more  he  reflected,  the  more  uneasy  he  be- 
came :  memory  was  awake,  conscience  roused,  and 


148  judah's  lion. 

he  quailed  under  their  rapidly-succeeding  accusations. 
It  was  long  ere  he  slept,  and  on  rising  he  felt  ill  and 
gloomy ;  '  I  will  listen  to  no  more  of  their  talk :  I  am 
young  and  have  plenty  of  time  before  me  :' — here  the 
recollection  of  the  mangled  head  suddenly  startled 
him :  '  Oh  no,  I  must  not  reckon  on  life  ;  but  surely  I 
need  not  spoil  all  the  pleasure  of  the  voyage  by  brood- 
ing over  such  distressing  things.' 

When  he  went  on  deck,  a  consultation  was  being 
held,  as  to  the  disposal  of  the  corpse.  The  weather 
was  sultry,  the  ship  small,  and  all  being  willing  to 
attest  the  accidental  nature  of  die  poor  lad's  death, 
the  Captain  agreed  to  commit  him  to  the  deep,  which 
was  done  with  so  many  superstitious  observances  and 
idolatrous  prayers  as  made  it  a  most  painful  spectacle. 
Mr.  Cohen  did  not  appear  till  it  was  over ;  and  then 
he  was  introduced  to  Captain  Ryan,  to  whom  he  took 
an  extraordinary  liking; — doubly  extraordinary  in 
Alick's  sight,  contrasted  as  it  was  with  the  usual 
polite  indifference  of  his  deportment.  The  sad  event 
of  the  preceding  night  was  soon  adverted  to,  and  Cap- 
tain Ryan  strongly  animadverted  on  the  cruelty  of 
that  system  which  seals  up  the  souls  of  men  in  an 
idolatrous  delusion.  To  this  Mr.  Cohen  warmly 
assented.  *  There  are  great  differences  between  your 
creed  and  ours,'  he  remarked :  '  but  I  really  think  you 
Protestants  abhor  idolatry  equally  with  us.' 

'  We  do  indeed ;  yet  you  too  often  confound  us 
with  those  who  practise  it;  not. knowing  that  the 
watchword  of  our  faith  is,  like  yours,  "  Hear,  O  Israel ; 
the  Lord  our  God  is  one  Lord!"  ' 


jtudah's  lion.  149 

'  Did  you  hear  of  that  young  fellow's  adventure  in 
Malta  V 

'  I  did,  and  recognised  in  it  the  spirit  of  Gideon 
breaking  down  Baal's  altar.  May  the  God  of  his 
fathers  make  him  ever  valiant  for  the  truth !' 

^  In  order  to  be  so,'  said  Mr.  Cohen  very  thought- 
fully, '  he  must  first  know  what  that  truth  is  ;  I  fear 
we  have  been  deficient  in  acquainting  him  with 
things  most  needful  to  be  learned.' 

Alick's  breath  was  well  nigh  gone  with  astonish- 
ment at  hearing  his  father  speak  thus:  he  began  to 
fear  Ben-Melchor  had  been  infecting  him  with  his 
Talmudism.  Captain  Ryan  looked  doubtful  and 
anxious.  '  It  is  a  point  of  universal  interest  and  im- 
portance, Mr.  Cohen,  to  know  where  truth  may  be 
found.  Permit  me  to  ask  in  what  quarter  do  you 
seek  it  V 

*  In  that,  Sir,  I  believe  we  are  both  agreed :  un- 
questionably, all  truth  is  contained  in  the  word  of 
God.' 

*  And  in  the  oral  law,'  added  Ben-Melchor,  who 
remarked  as  he  approached  that  the  speaker  raised 
his  voice,  and  directed  the  words  towards  him. 

'My  old  friend,  how  are  you?'  asked  Captain 
Ryan,  half  laughing ;  while  Ben-Melchor  looked  the 
extreme  reverse  of  any  thing  mirthful;  'you  say  that 
I  haunt  you  through  every  land,  and  cross  your  path 
in  every  city ;  and  1  fear  you  will  not  acquit  me  of 
contriving  this  unexpected  rencontre  on  the  bosom  of 
the  waves.' 

'  Meet  me   where   you  will,'   answered  the  Jew 

13* 


150 

fiercely,  ^  you  shall  not  contaminate  my  garment  with 
the  unclean  doctrine  of  the  Nazarenes.' 

*  Indeed,  Josef,  I  hope  I  shall,  with  the  Lord's 
blessing,  convince  you  yet.  But  a  heart  of  flesh  must 
be  given  before  the  law  of  the  Holy  One  can  be 
engraven  there,'  pointing  to  the  Jew's  side,  who 
shrank  from  him. 

^  You  have  spoken  words  of  blasphemy  against  our 
holy  rehgion,'  said  Ben-Melchor,  trembling  with  rage. 

'  I  have  not,  your  holy  religion  is  mine,  except  that 
where  you  grasp  the  unfolded  bud  of  the  blossom,  I 
feast  on  the  ripe  fruit.  I  have  denounced,  and  I  will 
denounce  your  Rabbinical  absurdities,  not  one  half  of 
which  do  you  believe,  while  you  uphold  them  all; 
but  your  religion,  Josef,  as  delineated  by  Moses  and 
the  prophets,  is  that  whereon  I  rest  my  faith,  my  hope, 
my  present  consolation,  and  everlasting  peace.  When 
my  blessed  Master  revealed  himself  as  the  risen 
Saviour,  the  promised  Messiah  of  Israel,  and  Re- 
deemer of  the  world,  how  did  he  instruct  his  eleven 
disciples  ?  By  opening  their  understandings  that  they 
might  understand  the  Scriptures.  What  Scriptures? 
Yours,  the  only  Scriptures  then  in  existence.  I  wish 
you  were  half  as  much  devoted  to  Moses  as  I  am !' 

'  This  very  day,'  said  Ben-Melchor,  with  bitter 
solemnity,  '  and  in  this  very  vessel,  there  was  worship 
paid  to  idols  of  wood  and  of  stone,  made  and  fashion- 
ed by  men's  hands ;  and  a  box  was  produced  wherein 
was  deposited  a  fragment  of  unleavened  paste,  turned 
by  the  magic  of  a  Christian  priest  into  the  body  of  the 
Crucified,  whom  you  caU  Jesus :  and  unto  this  did  the 


151 

Christians  address  their  prayers,  kneeling  prostrate,  in 
supphcation  for  the  soul's  safety  of  the  slain  man.' 

'  Then  they  committed  an  act  of  most  detestable 
idolatry,'  answered  Captain  Ryan ;  '  utterly  to  be  ab- 
horred of  all  Christian  men.  But,  Ben-Melchor,  why 
do  you  talk  thus  to  me  ?  You  perfectly  know  that 
the  religion  of  these  people  is  not  my  religion,  but 
that  it  much  more  resembles  your's ;  being  an  abuse 
and  perversion  of  the  truth — a  counterfeit  of  man's 
devising.  Leave  these  pretended  misapprehen- 
sions alone,  Ben-Melchor,  and  meet  me  on  the  com- 
mon ground  of  God's  inspired  word,  as  contained  in 
the  Old  Testament,  but  made  void  and  of  none  ef- 
fect to  you,  by  your  vain  traditions  received  from  your 
fathers.' 

^What  a  fine,  straight-forward  fellow!'  whispered 
Mr.  Cohen  to  Alick  ;  '  but  that  old  fox  will  never 
break  cover,  and  come  out  in  open  day.' 

Charley  now  came  slowly  along  the  deck;  his 
cheeks  w^ere  pale,  and  his  eyes  swollen,  and  he  stole 
a  timid  glance  towards  the  place  where  the  fatal  ca- 
lamity had  occurred.  His  father  held  out  his  arms 
and  the  boy  climbed  on  his  knee,  and  smiled. 

^  Poor  fellow,'  said  the  Captain,  kissing  his  brow, 
*  you  look  sad :  and  well  may  we  look  sad,  Charley, 
when  a  soul  has  passed  into  eternity  unprepared  for 
the  Lord's  summons.  They  have  buried  him  in  the 
deep,  there  to  remain  till  the  sea  gives  up  her  dead. 
We  must  not  despair,  for  who  knows  what  the 
Almighty  may  have  wrought,  even  in  a  moment  of 
time  in  the  soul  of  that  poor  youth  1  but  it  is  an 
awful  thought,  Charles,  the  day  when  the   sea  shall 


152 

give  up  the  dead  that  are  in  it.  What  will  happen 
then  ?' 

In  a  low  solemn  tone,  the  hoy  answered,  '  They 
shall  he  judged,  every  man  according  to  his  works  ; 
and  whosoever  is  not  found  written  in  the  book  of 
life,  will  he  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire.' 

*  Had  you  not  a  little  bit  of  a  battle  with  that  gen- 
tleman, Charley  V 

«  Yes,  Papa.' 

'  Have  you  shaken  hands  with  him  since  V 

'  No,  Papa.' 

^  Then  go  and  do  it  now.' 

Charley  went  up  to  the  Jew,  and  held  out  his 
hand;  Ben  Melchor  looked  at  him  with  a  sort  of 
shrinking  civility,  and  said,  ^  I  bear  thee  no  ill-will, 
child.' 

'  But  won't  you  shake  hands,  sir?' 

Ben-Melchor  walked  away ;  and  Mr.  Cohen  indig- 
nantly said,  '  If  this  were  Judaism,  I  should  blush  to 
be  a  Jew.' 

'  Happily,  however,  it  is  not  Judaism,  remarked 
Captain  Ryan,  '  nor  anything  else  but  a  crank  of 
man's  brain  suggested  by  the  Devil.  Ben-Melchor  is 
not  honest  in  his  profession  of  these  things :  I  know 
him  well.  I  often  meet  with  men  sincerely  in  the 
wrong,  holding  the  traditionary  law  as  sacred  as  that 
of  Moses,  if  not  more  so.  With  them  I  can  usually 
discuss  the  points  on  which  we  differ ;  but  this  fellow 
is  unmanageable.  I  took  this  method  to  drive  him 
away  in  a  civil  manner,  that  we  might  resume  the 
conversation  he  was  determined  to  interrupt.' 

They  did  resume  it :  Mr.  Cohen  spoke  as  a  candid 


153 

enquirer  into  things  connected  with  his  own  religion, 
to  which  he  had  paid  too  httle  regard.  Captain 
Ryan  preached  the  gospel,  fearlessly  and  judiciously  ; 
and,  whatever  his  father  might  feel,  Alick  was  con- 
scious that  he  was  learning  a  lesson  of  incalculable 
value. 

Before  they  reached  Smyrna,  Mr.  Cohen  had  gently 
informed  his  son  that  he  found  his  health  was  wholly 
unequal  to  any  stay  in  that  climate  :  it  had  been  sen- 
sibly declining,  he  said,  for  some  time  ;  and  he  greatly 
wished  to  return  home  ;  but  that  he  would  not  de- 
prive him  of  the  promised  gratification  of  passing 
sometime  in  the  East.  'Dear  father!'  said  Alick, 
unaffectedly  grieved,  'you  must  not  go  home  alone. 
Let  me  attend  you,  and  indeed  I  shall  not  feel  the 
disappointment  so  much  as  I  should  feel,  seeing  you 
depart  unaccompanied  by  any  one  you  could  look  on 
with  confidence.* 

'  No,  my  generous  boy ;  I  shall  be  better  when  I 
set  my  face  homewards ;  and  see  your's  set  towards 
the  Holy  City ;  I  wish  you  to  visit  it,  Alick  :  and  to 
kiss  for  me,  the  very  stones  in  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  ; 
Peace  be  upon  her  !  I  have  spoken  to  this  excellent 
man,  and  he  is  perfectly  willing  to  admit  you  into  his 
party,  and  to  be  a  parent  and  guide  to  you  during 
your  tour.  I  am  also  sure  you  will  be  delighted  to 
show  every  attention  to  his  amiable  wife,  and  that 
dear  little  boy.     What  say«you  to  it,  Alick?' 

^  Oh  my  dear,  dear  father,  how  shall  I  thank  you 
for  all  this?  leaving  me  in  such  hands,  to  visit  such 
places,  and — and — '  then  with  one  of  his  sudden 
bursts  of  honesty,  he  said,  '  Father,  I  cannot  deceive 


154 

you:  if  I  go  with  them  I  shall  certainly  have  a  great 
deal  of  talk  about  their  religion:  I  shall  hear  of  Jesus 
of  Nazareth — and — I  shall  try  to  find  out  whether  or 
not  it  was  of  him  that  Moses  in  the  law  and  the  pro- 
phets did  write.'  He  stood,  half  dreading  the  reply  ; 
but  thankful  to  have  spoken  so  candidly. 

*  Go,  Alick,  and  enquire  into  whatever  is  presented 
to  your  mind  as  the  truth.  Find  it,  and  having  found 
it,  hold  it  fast.  You  are  further  advanced  in  the 
search  than  I  am  :  your  earnestness,  boy,  has  shamed 
your  father  out  of  his  indifTerence.  God  grant  it  be 
not  too  late !' 

Alick  burst  into  tears,  and  throwing  himself  on  his 
knees  implored  forgiveness  for  all  his  waywardness 
and  undutifulness,  and  a  blessing.  This  was  given 
with  fervent  afiection :  and  Mr.  Cohen  said,  '  Your 
parting  gift  to  liie  must  be  a  Bible :  for  between  Jew 
and  Gentile,  Talmudist  and  Papist,  I  have  plainly 
learnt  that  it  is  only  there  truth  can  be  found.' 

And  so,  in  tears  and  smiles,  in  hope  and  anxiety, 
with  hearts  full  of  love,  and  heads  busied  with  many 
thoughts,  they  anchored  in  the  port  of  Smyrna. 


CHAPTER  XL 

No  sooner  was  the  little  vessel  fairly  in  port,  than  a 
number  of  fine-looking  men  in  oriental  costume,  with 
long  robes,  turbans,  black  beards,  and  sparkling  eyes, 
boarded  her.  They  approached  with  courteous  and 
respectful  looks  the  spot  where  Alick  and  his  party 
stood,  and  tendered  their  merchandize,  consisting  of 
ottar  of  roses,  musk,  and  other  costly  perfumes.  Alick' s 
heart  beat  high,  as  he  met  the  smiling  glanjce  of  Cap- 
tain Ryan,  who  said,  '  They  are  all  Israelites ;  speak 
to  them,  Cohen.' 

^  Oh,  what  language  shall  I  speak  in!'  cried  the 
youth,  to  whose  sight  the  apparition  of  the  poor 
orange-seller  in  the  cove  of  Cork  seemed  to  rise,  in 
overpowering  contrast  to  the  group  now  before  him : 
and  ere  Captain  Ryan  could  answer,  he  had  loudly 
uttered  in  Hebrew,  the  watchword  of  the  church — 
"  Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a  Unity !" 

Every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  youth,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  gratified  surprise,  as  the  response  sounded 
from  every  tongue  :  and  Captain  Ryan  thought,  as  he 
gazed  on  him,  that  he  had  never  seen  so  beautiful  a 
specimen  of  a  race  who,  even  in  their  lowest  state  of 
depression,  still  retain  somewhat  of  the  innate  royalty 
that  will  yet  again  shine  out,  more  and  more,  as  the 
progress  advances  of  the  restoration,  to  that  pre-emi- 


156  JUDAH^S   LION. 

nence  which  God  has  assigned  to  them,  "  A  people 
terrible  from  their  beginning."  The  Jews  spoke 
principally  in  the  Spanish  tongue,  which  was  not  very 
intelligible  to  Alick ;  and  hoping  soon  to  enjoy  free 
commuuication  with  them,  by  means  of  the  instruc- 
tion that  Captain  Ryan  delighted  to  give  him,  he 
contented  himself  now  with  making  hberal  purchases. 
Meanwhile  Mr.  Cohen,  who  was  an  accomplished 
linguist,  had  singled  out  one  of  his  countrymen,  a  fine 
old  man,  and  obtained  information  from  him  as  to  the 
number,  condition,  and  other  particulars  of  the  Jews 
in  Smyrna.  He  also  purchased  largely  ;  and  Captain 
Ryan,  who  conversed  freely  with  the  whole  party,  did 
not  confine  his  dealing  to  words.  The  poor  Jews,  who 
had  rarely  found  so  many  generous  customers  on 
board  a  vessel  of  that  description,  were  in  high  spirits ; 
and  one  of  them  declared  that  of  late  years,  the  Eng- 
lish had  shown  so  kind  a  feeling  towards  them,  as  to 
lead  them  in  all  cases  of  distress  to  look  to  them  as 
their  appointed  helpers. 

'  The  Lord  be  praised !'  added  Captain  Ryan,  as 
he  repeated  this  remark  in  Engli.sh :  '  for  if  we  be 
found  standing  in  such  a  position  towards  Israel,  a 
blessing  will,  and  must  attend  us.' 

As  they  landed,  Alick  was  struck  by  the  picturesque 
appearance  of  the  flags  of  every  nation  flying  over  the 
different  consulates.  That  of  England  was  nearest, 
and  directly  opposite  the  pier  where  they  stepped 
ashore.  ^  I  wish  it  was  the  royal  standard,'  thought 
he,  '  I  should  like  just  now  to  see  the  lion  in  it.  Here 
we  are :  no  sea  now  separates  me  from  the  land  of 
my  fathers  ;  and  the  soil  I  shall  tread  was  oft-times 


i 


judah's  lion.  157 

pressed  beneath  their  victorious  march,  when  subdu- 
ing the  nations  under  their  feet'  His  form  seemed  to 
dilate,  and  his  stature  to  rise,  as  he  looked  round  him  ; 
and  the  more  he  saw  of  his  oriental  brethren,  the  more 
elevated  did  he  feel.  The  difference  is,  in  fact,  more 
that  of  garb,  and  the  bearded  chin  so  appropriate  to 
the  costume.  '  I  shall  never  again  fancy  the  girl- 
faced  fellows  at  home,'  continued  Alick,  as  he  looked 
on  those  at  hand  ;  '  certainly  men's  beards  were  not 
given  them  for  the  purpose  of  spending  half  an  hour 
every  day  in  scraping  them  off:  but  everything  gets 
wrong  as  one  goes  farther  away  from  the  holy  land, 
and  comes  right  as  we  approach  it.'  This  opinion  he 
repeated  to  Captain  Ryan,  who  laughed,  and  said, 
'  My  chin  and  razor  have  often  parted  company  for 
months  together  when  in  the  East ;  for  which  I  have 
incurred  the  serious  displeasure  of  some  good  men, 
who  seem  to  consider  that  we  become  better  Christians 
in  proportion  as  we  recede  from  everything  Jewish.' 

'  But  that  is  not  your  doctrine  V 

'  I  hope  not  indeed.  In  my  view,  Christianity  is 
not  only  not  opposed  to  genuine  Judaism,  but  it  is  not 
even  an  addition  to  it  I  believe  it  to  be  contained  in 
Judaism,  as  is  the  fruit  in  the  blossom  ;  and  the  Jew 
who  fancies  that  he  must,  on  embracing  the  gospel, 
lay  aside  the  religion  of  Moses,  knows  little  of  Paul's 
meaning — ''Is  any  among  you  circumcised?  let  him 
not  become  uncircumcised."  I  am  the  more  anxious 
to  impress  this  upon  you,  Cohen,  because  you  will  be 
likely  before  long  to  hear  some  things  very  galling  to 
your  Jewish  feelings,  from  an  excellent  friend  of  mine, 
who  goes  to  the  full  length  of  Gentilizing  w^herever 

14 


158 

he  meets  with  a  convert.      He  is  travelHng  now,  and 
hkely  to  take  Smyrna  in  his  way  before  we  leave  it.' 

^  His  opinions  will  not  affect  me,  at  any  rate,  Cap- 
tain Ryan,'  said  Alick,  rather  superciUously  ;  he  then 
added,  '  I  must  look  out  for  the  synagogue,  in  order  to 
attend  worship  there  to-morrow.' 

'  I  will  escort  you  thither:  you  will  be  much  pleased 
with  the  devout  earnestness  of  your  eastern  brethren; 
what  you  have  seen  in  London  is  very  cold  compared 
with  it.' 

They  went;  and  while  Alick  joined  with  soul-felt 
devotion  in  the  services.  Captain  Ryan  stood  more 
aloof,  but  evidently  in  prayer  all  the  time.  When 
they  had  ended,  a  number  of  Jews  surrounded  him, 
and  began  an  argument,  as  with  one  whom  they  had 
often  encountered  before.  The  numerous  texts 
brought  forward  by  both  parties  from  the  Hebrew 
scriptures  proved  to  Alick  that  the  Messiah  was  the 
subject  of  their  conference,  and  a  good  deal  of  warmth 
was  displayed  by  the  Jews,  while  Captain  Ryan,  pre- 
serving his  usual  good-humour,  had  an  answer  for 
every  one,  and  not  a  few  perplexing  questions  to  put 
to  each.  When  they  were  again  alone,  Alick  asked 
him,  with  a  sly  smile,  if  he  had  prevailed  on  any  of 
his  brethren  to  acknowledge  Jesus  of  Nazareth  as 
their  Messiah. 

'  No,  that  was  not  the  matter  before  us :  in  fact 
such  admission  would  be  no  gain  to  any  body.' 

'  You  surprise  me.  I  thought  it  was  the  very  turn- 
ing point  of  the  whole  matter.' 

'  Far  from  it :  I  have  met  with  Jews  who  would 
acknowledge  that  their  Messiah  might  possibly  have 


159 

come  in  a  poor  and  humble  guise  ;  might  have  walked 
as  Christ  did  and  like  him  have  suffered,  and  may 
come  again  as  we  believe  he  will  do,  to  reign.  Yet 
were  they  not  a  whit  nearer  the  truth.  The  Messiah 
for  whom  you  look  is  but  a  man :  a  great  prince,  a 
mighty  conqueror,  appointed  to  accomplish  a  temporal 
deliverance,  and  then  to  reign  over  you  as  did  David 
and  your  ancient  kings.  This  will  not  suffice  :  the 
Bible  bids  you  expect  more,  much  more :  it  bids  you 
look  for  the  appearance  of  Him  who  is  the  Lord  from 
heaven  :  even  Jesus,  the  Saviour,  which  delivereth  us 
from  the  wrath  to  come.' 

Ahck  bit  his  lip :  something  in  the  service  in  which 
he  had  just  united  was  strong  in  his  mind:  he  said, 
*  It  is  very  revolting  to  a  Jew  to  hear  of  a  strange 
_god.' 

'  Not  a  whit  more  revolting  to  a  Jew  than  to  a 
Christian,'  answered  Captain  Ryan.  '  We  are  as 
jealous  as  you  can  be  in  guarding  from  all  perversion 
that  great  doctrine,  the  unity  of  the  Godhead.  Your 
own  scriptures  set  forth  most  clearly  what  we  hold, 
that  your  expected  Messiah,  the  Deliverer  and  Re- 
storer of  Israel  and  the  hope  of  all  the  ends  of  the 
earth,  is  a  Divine  Person.  Now,  here  is  the  hundred 
and  tenth  Psalm :  read  it,  and  tell  me  to  whom  it 
refers.' 

Alick  glanced  over  it ;  'I  know  it  weU,  and  it 
clearly  refers  to  the  Messiah.  Ben-Melchor  told  me 
Israel  was  meant ;  but  this  expression,  "  Thou  art  a 
priest  for  ever,  after  the  order  of  Melchizedeck,"  must 
refer  to  an  individual,  not  a  nation,' 


160 

'  Yau  are  right.  Now  tell  me,  Cdien,  who  wrote 
this  Psalm?' 

'  David; 

•  Then,  I  ask  you  a  question  which  your  lathers 
could  not  answer  ;  If  Messiah  be  David's  son,  in  what 
sense  is  he  his  Lord  ?' 

'  I  cannot  tell  you,  for  I  am  unskilled  in  these  deep 
things.' 

'  My  dear  lad !  the  best  skilled  in  these  things  is  he 
who  receives  like  a  little  child  the  plain  word  of  God 
in  its  most  plain  and  simple  meaning.  The  more 
you  study  it,  the  more  you  will  be  struck  with  its 
glorious  simplicity  and  comprehensibility.' 

'  I  confess,  Captain  Ryan,  I  have  found  it  so ;  but 
on  these  more  solemn  and  vitally  important  matters 
it  may  be  more  obscure.' 

'  Just  the  contrary :  what  is  of  most  consequence 
for  us  to  know  is  revealed  the  most  clearly.  If  you 
take  this  Psalm,  for  instance,  as  addressed  by  David 
in  spirit  to  one  who,  though  of  his  own  flesh  as  man, 
was  also  to  be  a  Divine  Person,  and  believe  that  he 
likewise  offered  up  a  sacrifice  of  abiding,  eternal  efii- 
cacy  for  the  sins  of  this  world ;  and  that  he  shall 
come  again  to  subdue  his  enemies  and  to  reign  as  a 
king,  not  only  over  Israel  but  over  the  whole  earth ; 
then  you  will  see  the  beautiful  harmony  of  the  predic- 
tion ;  and  its  consistence  with  these  parts  of  the  ora- 
cles of  God.' 

'  Then  you  mean  to  say  that  the  same  strange  doc- 
trine is  elsewhere  set  forth  V 

'  Elsewhere !  ay,  everywhere  :  Do  you  think  we 
build  our  faith  and  hope  on  an  isolated  passage  ?  One 


judah's  lion.  161 

word,  indeed,  being  God's  v/ord,  would  prove  a  suffi- 
cient security  for  the  whole  world  to  depend  on ;  but 
he  has  graciously  given  us  line  upon  line,  precept 
upon  precept,  to  the  same  blessed  effect.' 

'  Will  you  point  out  some  of  those  passages  to 
me?' 

'  Gladly :  but  remember  that  only  One  can  teach 
you  effectually ;  and  lift  up  your  heart  for  divine  in- 
struction.' 

'  I  do,  Captain  Ryan.  I  really  desire  to  learn,  but 
what  you  have  said  has  startled  me  much.  I  thought 
if  I  once  could  bring  myself  to  recognize  in  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  the  Prince  Messiah,  so  longed  for  by  us, 
that  I  should  be  at  once  with  you  in  faith ;  but  I  now 
find  you  require  me  wholly  to  alter  my  view  of  him 
to  whom  I  have  ever  looked  as  the  hope  of  Israel — 
you  want  me  to  confess  that  Messiah  Ben  David  is — 
God.'  He  hesitated  and  dropped  his  voice  in  pro- 
nouncing the  last  words. 

'  That  is  the  point  I  was  arguing  with  your  people 
yonder ;  and  I  found  them  very  determined  in  oppo- 
sing me  ;  but  we  have  one  appeal — to  the  law  and  to 
the  testimony.  I  set  before  you  what  I  believe  and 
know  to  be  the  truth,  and  I  tell  you  where  I  found 
that  truth,  that  you  may  yourself  seek  it  out.  I  have, 
however,  this  disadvantage  to  contend  with,  that 
whereas  I  have  the  inspired  narrative  of  the  fulfil- 
ment to  guide  me  to  the  perfect  meaning  of  various 
prophetic  scriptures,  you  reject  that  portion,  and  insist 
on  being  convinced  by  the  Old  Testament  alone  with- 
out any  reference  to  the  New.  Still  I  will  meet  you 
there.     My  task  is  to  show  that  in  the  Bible,  as  you 

14* 


Mtt  JUDAH*S   LION. 

hold  it,  we  have  evidence  of  a  Saviour  being  pro- 
mised who  is  a  partaker  in  the  Divine  Essence ;  far 
above  the  highest  created  angel,  and  an  object  of 
worship  to  those  who  acknowledge  the  Most  High 
God.' 

^  And  that,  I  think,  you  cannot  do.* 

^  We  shall  see  ; — In  your  liturgy  you  have  this  pas 
sage,  I  think,  in  the  grace  after  meals  ;  "  O  God,  thov 
art  our  Father,  King,  Strength,  Creator,  Redeemer, 
and  Sanctifier :  the  Sanctifier  of  Jacob,  the  Pastor, 
the  Shepherd  of  Israel :  the  beneficent  King,  who 
dealeth  beneficently  with  all ;  for  he  hath  been,  is, 
and  ever  will  be,  daily  beneficent  towards  us."  Now 
these  words  include  every  thing  ;  and  it  is  remark- 
able that  three  of  them,  in  the  exact  order  in  which 
they  stand,  "  Creator,  Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier," 
set  forth  in  the  very  same  language  that  we  use, 
the  three  persons  whom  we  adore  in  the  Unity  of 
the  Godhead :  the  Creating  Father,  the  Redeeming 
Son,  the  Sanctifying  Spirit.  I  think,  Cohen,  you 
hold  strongly  that  to  worship  any  created  object  is  a 
sin?' 

*  A  gross  sin :  an  idolatrous  act,  hateful  to  God.' 

^  Turn  to  the  Psalm  we  were  looking  at.  "  In  the 
day  of  thy  power  shall  the  people  offer  thee  free-will 
offerings,  and  a  holy  worship."  I  don't  ask  you  to 
reply,  only  note  it  down,  to  study  at  your  leisure. 
Now  look  at  Zechariah,  the  twelfth  chapter :  who  is 
the  speaker?' 

Alick  looked,  and  replied,  '  Certainly  God  is  the 
speaker :  of  none  other  could  it  be  said,  "  The  Lord 
wliich  stretched  forth  the  heavens,  and  layeth  the 


judah's  lion.  163 

foundations  of  the  earth,  and  formeth  the  spirit  of 
man  within  him."  ' 

'  Go  on,'  said  Captain  Ryan  ;  and  he  read  to  the 
ninth  verse,  and  exclaimed,  '  These  are  glorious  pro- 
raises  indeed !  these  are.  the  days  of  the  Messiah,  the 
Son  of  David  our  King.'  He  then  resumed,  and  read, 
*'  And  I  will  pour  upon  the  house  of  David,  and  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit  of  grace  and 
of  supplications  :  and  they  shall  look  upon  mc  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him,  as 
one  mourneth  for  his  only  son  ;  and  shall  be  in  bit- 
terness for  him,  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness  for  his  first- 
born." 

^  Well,  Cohen  ?'  said  Captain  Ryan,  as  Alick  made 
a  full  stop. 

^  This  is  astounding!'  exclaimed  the  young  man, 
^  there  must  be  an  error  somewhere.' 

'  Yes,  there  is  an  error  in  you,  even  want  of  faith. 
I  just  put  this  before  you :  I  have  not  picked  out  an 
isolated  passage,  but  made  you  read  the  whole  con- 
text, by  which  you  see  the  speaker  is  not  changed. 
"  The  Lord  which  stretcheth  forth  the  heavens,  and 
layeth  the  foundation  of  the  earth,  and  formeth  the 
spirit  of  man  within  him,"  is  declaring  the  triumphant 
period  of  Messiah's  coming,  to  restore  and  to  reign 
over  the  Jewish  people  ;  and  he  says,  ''  They  shall 
look  on  me  whom  they  have  pierced."  I  will  not  now 
even  insist  on  the  obvious  reference  to  the  nation  who 
nailed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  to  the  cross :  I  only  ask  you 
to  consider  the  bearing  of  the  passage  as  it  regards 
the  Messiah,  And  now  just  look  at  the  next  chapter, 
the  seventh  verse,  "  Awake,   O  sword,   against  my 


164 

Shepherd,  and  against  the  man  that  is  my  fellow, 
saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts :  smite  the  Shepherd,  and  the 
sheep  shall  be  scattered,  and  I  will  turn  my  hand  up- 
on the  little  ones."  If  you  go  on  to  the  end,  you  will 
find  the  subject  of  Israel's  punishment  and  subsequent 
pardon  and  restoration,  clearly  brought  forward.' 

*  These  are  wonderful  things,  I  confess:  have  you 
more  to  show  me  T 

'  I  wish  to  ask  you  whether  you  would  apply  the 
title  of  Redeemer  of  Jacob  to  any  but  God?' 

^  No,  certainly  not.' 

^  What  then  does  Jacob  mean  by  that  expression, 
"  God,  before  whom  my  fathers  Abraham  and  Isaac 
did  walk,  the  God  that  fed  me  all  my  life  long  unto 
this  day,  the  angel  which  redeemed  me  from  all  evil, 
bless  the  lads."  Gen.  xlviii.  15,  16.  Who  is  this  re- 
deeming angel?' 

'  You  will  not  say  it  is  our  Messiah  at  any  rate,' 
observed  Alick  ;  '  for  according  to  you  he  is  far  above 
all  created  angels.' 

^  True,  he  is  so ;  but  in  his  character  of  one  appointed 
and  sent  on  an  especial  work  by  his  Father,  I  do  allow, 
in  this  instance,  the  application  of  the  term  angel, 
which  signifies  a  messenger,  to  Him. 

'  Now  I  remember,'  said  Alick  eagerly,  *  httle  as 
yet  I  know  of  the  Bible,  I  remember  a  passage  that 
explains  this.  When  Moses  led  my  fathers  up  out  of 
Egypt,  the  Holy  One  said  to  him  that  he  would  send 
an  angel  to  deliver  them,  whom  they  were  to  obey. 
This  proves  that  power  could  be  given  to  an  angel, 
for  a  special  purpose,  to  redeem  the  people  from  tem- 
poral evils.' 


^•• 


JUDAH^S   LION.  165 

*  I  am  delighted,  my  dear  boy,  to  hear  you  proving 
Scripture  by  Scripture.  Now  let  us  look  at  that  pas- 
sage ;  you  will  find  it  in  the  twenty-third  chapter  of 
Exodus,  the  twentieth  and  following  verses.  Read  it 
attentively.' 

Alick  read ;  ''  Behold,  I  send  an  angel  before  thee 
to  keep  thee  in  the  way,  and  to  bring  thee  into  the 
place  which  I  have  prepared.  Beware  of  him  and 
obey  his  voice,  provoke  him  not ;  for  he  will  not  par- 
don your  transgressions  :  for  my  name  is  in  him.  But 
if  thou  shalt  indeed  obey  his  voice,  and  do  all  that  I 
speak;  then  I  will  be  an  enemy  unto  thine  enemies, 
and  an  adversary  unto  thine  adversaries."  This  is 
what  I  alluded  to  ;  and  it  is  very  plain.' 

'  It  is  very  plain,  Cohen,'  said  Captain  Ryan, 
solernnly,  '  and  I  beseech  you  to  ponder  it  deeply. 
The  glorious  King  who  will  yet  come  to  reign  over 
you,  and  us,  and  over  the  whole  earth,  the  Messiah, 
the  anointed  One,  He  it  was  who  first  brought  your 
fathers  into  the  good  land  which  we  hope  shortly  to 
visit :  the  land  given  by  covenant  to  Abraham  and 
his  seed  ;  and  into  which  the  Angel — the  messenger 
of  that  covenant  led  them.  I  now  ask  you,  do  you 
know  the  meaning  of  that  great  and  terrible  name  by 
which  God  revealed  himself  to  Moses  ;  which  your 
people  avoid  pronouncing,  and  which,  therefore,  I 
never  pronounce  to  them.  Do  you  know  the  high  im- 
port of  this  name  V  and  he  pointed  it  out  to  him  in 
Hebrew. 

'  I  know  it  imports  greater  things  than  we  can 
utter,'  replied  Alick. 

*  Is  it  not  expressive  of  self-existence,  of  eternity, 


166 

of  unchangeaLleness, — in  short,  is  it  not  altogether  in- 
communicable ?  would  it  not  be  blasphemy  most  fear- 
ful, in  any  creature  to  assume  to  himself  that  awful 
name  V 

^  Who  would,  who  could  dare  to  do  it !  We  reject 
your  Nazarene,  because  he  ventured  to  claim  it,  and 
we  are  shocked  at  you  for  supporting  that  claim.' 

*  And  we  support  it,  Cohen,  as  much  on  the  strength 
of  this  very  passage  as  any  other.  Tliis  Angel  is  one 
sent ;  that  is  clearly  expressed  ;  and  of  this  Angel 
it  is  declared  that  the  great,  the  awful,  the  incommu- 
nicable Name  is  in  him.  To  him  they  are  required 
to  yield  obedience,  not  because  God,  as  then  speaking 
to  them,  will  punish  disobedience  offered  to  his  ap- 
pointed vicegerent,  but  because  "  He  will  not  pardon 
your  transgressions."  The  power  of  forgiving  sins  re- 
sides in  him ;  and  who  can  forgive  sins  but  God  alone  ? 
Obedience  is  to  be  rendered  unto  hinn  by  the  com- 
mand of  God,  who  elsewhere  has  repeatedly  said,  that 
he  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another ;  and  the  people 
are  cautioned  not  to  provoke  him,  because  evidently, 
the  power  to  punish  resides  independently  in  him. 
This  is  indeed  He  to  whom  the  Father  says,  in  the 
forty-fifth  Psalm,  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and 
ever:  a  sceptre  of  righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy 
kingdom."  This  is  he  of  whom  it  is  said  in  the  second 
Psalm,  "  Kiss  the  Son,  lest  he  be  angiy,  and  ye  perish 
from  the  right  way,  when  his  wrath  is  kindled  but  a 
little.  Blessed  are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  him." 
Yes,  and  "  Cursed  is  he  that  putteth  his  trust  in  man, 
and  maketh  flesh  his  arm." 

Alick  Hstened  with  deep  attention  :  ^  I  do  not  deny 


JIJD All's   LION.  167 

tliat  you  have  startled  me  very  much :  hut  I  have  no 
doLiht  our  learned  men  have  found  another  meaning 
for  these  expressions.' 

^  They  have  done  their  utmost  to  explain  them  away, 
of  course  ;  and  hence  it  is,  that  though  Moses,  who 
testified  of  Christ,  is  read  in  the  synagogues  every 
Sabhath-day,  you  cannot  perceive  his  meaning — the 
veil  is  on  your  hearts.  In  the  day  when  you  shall  turn 
to  the  Lord  rejecting  all  the  glosses  and  perversions 
of  men,  and  desirous  to  he  taught  of  Him  alone,  in 
that  day  the  veil  shall  be  taken  away,  and  you  shall 
clearly  see  what  is  now  hid  from  your  eyes.  All  that 
I  ask  of  you  is  an  unprejudiced  examination  of  your 
own  scriptures,  with  incessant  prayer  to  God  that  he 
would  illumine  and  direct  your  mind.  He  alone  can 
reveal  himself  to  you  ;  and  if  you  will  not  ask  for  such 
revelation,  surely  you  despise  the  gift,  and  must  ex- 
pect to  be  left  in  darkness.  Secret  prayer  over  the 
word  of  God  can  do  nothing  but  good.  He  will  not 
lead  you  into  error,  nor  suffer  others  to  lead  you,  if  you 
humbly  commit  yourself  to  his  teaching  and  protec- 
tion.' 

'  That  is  my  great  comfort.  You,  or  others,  may 
bid  me  look  in  the  Bible  for  evidence  to  establish  a 
false  doctrine  ;  but  if  I  do  it  in  earnest  prayer  to  God, 
he  will  make  my  search  the  very  means  of  strengthen- 
ing me  against  what  is  wrong.' 

'  Exactly  so ;  if  I  wanted  to  deceive  you,  the  last 
thing  I  should  do  would  be  to  send  you  to  the  foun- 
tain of  truth,  the  light  that  maketh  manifest' 

'  I  shrank  from  your  doctrine  before,'  resumed 
Alick,  '  because  I  would  not  recognize   my  Messiah 


168  judah's  lton. 

in  a  crucified  man  :  now,  because  I  dare  not  regard 
him  as  the  Most  High  God.  What  a  strange  mystery 
is  this!' 

'  All  creation  is  a  mystery  :  the  finger  with  which 
you  now  turn  over  that  leaf  is  a  mystery  most  won- 
derful, most  incomprehensible.  How  comes  it,  Cohen, 
that  at  the  very  moment  when  your  mind  conceives  a 
purpose  of  investigating  what  stands  on  the  next  page 
of  the  book,  at  that  very  moment  your  finger,  the 
immediate  loss  of  which  would  not  in  the  smallest 
degree  lessen  or  affect  your  intellectual  powers,  exe- 
cutes the  purpose  of  your  mind,  with  accuracy,  dis- 
patch, and  facility  not  to  be  surpassed  ?  Oh,  con- 
template for  a  moment  the  magnificent  mysteries  that 
enwrap  the  lowest  of  his  visible  works,  and  then  think 
what  must  be  the  unfathomable  mysteriousness  of  the 
awful  Creator  Himself?  Remember,  He  has  revealed 
to  us  in  that  book  what  we  are  to  believe ;  and  be 
content  to  credit  what  he  says,  to  receive  what  he 
gives,  and  to  wait  for  a  different  stage  of  being,  before 
you  essay  to  comprehend  what  must,  in  our  present 
state,  be  utterly  incomprehensible.' 

*  But  now.  Captain  Ryan,  if  I  am  to  believe  with- 
out understanding,  why  should  I  reject  what  the 
Papists  believe  ?' 

'  How  can  you  ask  such  a  question  !  I  bid  you 
yield  undoubting  credence  to  all  that  God  declares 
in  the  Bible  ;  and  one  of  the  plainest,  most  unmis- 
takeable  things  there  revealed,  is  the  abhorrence  in 
which  the  Lord  holds  idolatry.  The  Bible,  my  dear 
friend,  is  the  universal  key ;  with  it,  we  unlock  the 
fetters  that  bind  the  poor  Romanist,  and  set  him  free  ; 


169 

with  it  we  unlock  the  casket  that  the  Jew  holds  closed, 
and  exhibit  to  him  the  treasure  that  he  was  uncon- 
scious of  possessing.' 

They  had  now  reached  their  temporary  abode,  and 
found  Mr.  Cohen  so  much  indisposed  as  to  require  all 
Alick's  attention.  He  expressed  an  anxious  wish  to 
find  himself  on  the  homeward  way,  and  talked  of 
immediately  proceeding  by  a  vessel  bound  for  Jaffa, 
whence  he  could  readily  obtain  a  passage  to  Alex- 
andria, and  thence  to  England  as  he  might  wish. 
Captain  Ryan  saw  how  deeply  Alick  felt  this  proposed 
separation,  and  how  he  shrank  from  leaving  his  parent 
in  the  hands  of  strange  shipmen ;  he  therefore  con- 
ferred with  his  wife,  and  came  to  the  decision  that  as 
they  were  under  no  particular  necessity  to  pursue  the 
route  they  had  entered  on,  it  would  be  right  to  follow 
out  a  path  seemingly  marked  for  them  ;  and  the  re- 
sult was  the  embarkation  of  the  whole  party  in  a  very 
small  but  commodious  vessel,  for  the  port  of  Jaffa. 
Alick's  gratitude  knew  no  bounds  ;  and  Charley  was 
wonderfully  delighted. 

'  Do  you  know,  Mr.  Alick,'  said  he,  ^  that  Jaffa  is 
^  Joppa,  where  Simon  the  tanner  lived  by  the  sea-side, 
and  Simon  Peter  lodged  with  him;  and  there  came 
a  great  sheet  down  from  heaven,  and  a  voice  bade 
him  slay  and  eat  all  the  things  in  it  ?  You  know, 
that  was  a  vision  to  let  him  see  he  was  not  to  despise 
the  Gentiles,  but  to  go  to  Cornelius  the  centurion, 
when  the  messengers  came  to  say  an  angel  had  bade 
him  send  for  Peter.' 

'  Well,  now,  Charley,  you  must  show  me  that  story 

15 


170 

in  the  Bible  ;  for  I  confess  I  can't  make  anything  of 
it,  in  the  way  you  have  told  it  to  me.' 

^  Oh,  to  be  sure  I  will ;'  and  he  bustled  away  for 
his  Bible,  and  was  soon  on  Alick's  knee,  reading  to 
him  the  tenth  chapter  of  the  Acts.  Alick  was  greatly 
struck  with  it.  '  This  was  a  remarkable  epoch,'  said 
he,  half  unconsciously,  '  for  here  was  the  first  ac- 
knowledgment of  the  Gentiles.  I  plainly  see,  every 
thing  continued  Jewish  up  to  this  time.' 

'  Oh  yes,'  answered  Charley,  '  and  if  you  read  the 
next  chapter,  you  will  find  how  Peter  got  into  a 
scrape  with  the  apostles  in  Jerusalem  for  eating  with 
Gentiles.' 

*  Indeed !  then  let  us  read  it  directly :  I  should  like 
to  know  how  he  got  out  of  the  scrape.'  Tliis  was 
done ;  and  Charley  said,  '  Well,  what  do  you  think 
of  it?' 

'  Why,  what  do  you  think  of  it,  Charley  ?  I  should 
like  to  hear  your  opinion  of  the  matter.' 

'  I  think  it  is  very  beautiful.  You  see,  Peter  would 
not  have  gone  to  a  Gentile  for  all  the  messengers  that 
the  Centurion  could  have  sent,  because  it  was  con- 
trary to  the  law  that  he  had :  but  when  God  himself 
commanded  him,  how  very  readily  he  did  go !  The 
Papists  make  Peter  the  first  Pope,  but  you  see  he 
behaved  quite  unlike  a  Pope — he  would  not  let  Cor- 
neUus  worship  him.' 

'  Stop,  Charley  ;  does  God  make  laws  and  unmake 
them  ?  are  his  commands  so  uncertain  ?  He  forbade 
a  thing  to  be  done  by  the  Jews,  and  then  commanded 
a  Jew  to  do  it.     Is  it  so  ?' 

'  I  suppose  if  God  commands  it  to  be  dark  to-night, 


171 

that  it  is  no  reason  he  should  not  command  it  to  be 
light  in  the  morning,  Mr.  Alick.'  said  the  child,  set- 
ting his  broad  eyes  upon  him,  in  wonder  at  his  bring- 
ing the  charge  of  inconsistency  against  the  Lord. 
'  And  I  suppose  if  the  sun's  light  came  at  first  only 
on  the  tops  of  the  mountains,  that  is  no  reason  it 
should  not  shine  into  the  vallies  bye  and  bye,  Mr. 
AKck' 

The  answer  was  conclusive ;  it  opened  a  new  scene 
to  Alick' s  view  ;  and  made  him  almost  enter  into  the 
thankful  feelings  with  which  the  Jewish  apostles  said, 
"  Then  hath  God  also  to  the  Gentiles  granted  re- 
pentance unto  life."  Alick  always  felt,  when  with 
Charley,  like  one  who  was  being  quietly  towed  into  a 
pleasant  haven:  but  when  with  others  he  seemed 
painfully  toiling  against  a  rough  current.  He  now 
resolved  to  enjoy  a  little  of  his  favourite  friend's  chat, 
and  closing  the  book  went  on, 

*  I  like  your  Papa  very  much  indeed,  Charley.' 

'  So  you  ought,  for  he  is  fonder  of  you  than  of  any 
body.' 

*  What  makes  you  think  so  V 

*  Oh,  everything :  he  always  calls  you,  "  That  dear 
lad,"  or  "  our  beloved  Alick,"  or  ^'  that  noble  young 
Jew,"  or  some  such  thing;  and  at  prayers  how  he 
does  pray  for  you !    And  when  Ben-Melchor  set  the 

Jews  upon  him   so,   about   you' ,  here    Charley 

stopped,  for  he  had  let  out  a  secret. 

'  Go  on  ;  when  they  attacked  him  about  me,  what 
did  he  do  V 

*  I  did  not  know  you  knew  it,'  said  Charley  with 
glee,  '  and  he  did  not  want  you  to  know  it.     They 


172 

really  frightened  us,  they  were  so  cross.  I  could  not 
tell  what  they  said,  you  know ;  hut  both  mamma  and 
I  were  in  a  fright  When  they  were  gone  we  cried ; 
and  papa  said  he  thought  we  loved  you  better  than  to 
mind  facing  such  a  breeze  for  your  sake.' 

^  I  wonder  they  did  not  go  to  my  father,'  said  Alick. 
In  fact,  they  had  been  to  him ;  and  the  result  was  an 
admission  on  their  side,  that  if  it  was  in  the  Bible  his 
son  was  searching,  with  unprejudiced  mind,  for  the 
truth,  he  was  in  a  safe  way.  Ben-Melchor  had 
represented  the  Ryans  as  worshippers  of  images ;  and 
Mr.  Cohen  as  a  man  of  no  religion  whatever,  allow- 
ing his  son  to  be  led  astray  in  the  prospect  of  worldly 
advantages.  On  these  points  the  Jews  were  quickly 
set  right ;  and  in  resentment  at  the  impositions  of 
their  unworthy  brother,  they  refused  to  interfere  any 
farther. 

Alick  resumed  the  discourse  with  Charles.  '  Is 
there  any  place  besides  Joppa  that  you  are  anxious  to 
see?' 

*  Oh,  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem!'  cried  the  child,  clap- 
ping his  hands.'  Won't  we  see  Jerusalem  itself?  You 
can't  think  how  glad  I  am  that  we  are  going  this 
road  ;  for  you  see,  it  was  very  uncertain  if  we  could 
get  to  Jerusalem  at  all  the  other  way.  Now,  we 
shall  go  right  up,  up,  till  we  get  there.' 

*  Is  it  up-hill  all  the  way,  do  you  think  ?' 

*  No,  but  the  Bible  always  talks  of  going  up  to  Je- 
rusalem you  know.  It's  the  greatest  place  in  the 
whole  world ;  and  it's  a  great  honour  to  go  to  it ;  so 
we  say  up,  we  shall  go  up,  up  to  Jerusalem,'  and 


jxtdah's  lion.  173 

again  he  clapped  his  hands,  and  kicked  out  his  Httle 
feet  as  he  sat. 

^  But  I  have  a  greater  portion  in  Jerusalem  than 
you,  Charley.' 

*  I  know  you  have :  it  belongs  to  you ;  but  v^^e  Gen- 
tiles may  go  up  and  worship  there,  you  know.  The 
poor  Jews,  Mr.  Alick,  are  badly  off  in  their  own  city ; 
Papa  says  it  will  grieve  our  hearts  to  see  how  they 
are  oppressed :  but  never  mind ;  their  King  will  soon 
come,  and  restore  the  kingdom  to  Israel.' 

*  But  now,  Charley,  if  this  King  should,  after  all, 
not  be  the  one  you  expect,  what  will  become  of  you  f 
Charley  stared  at  him,  and  then  asked,  '  Do  you  mean, 
what  would  become  of  me  if  Jesus  Christ  was  not 
King  of  the  Jews  and  King  of  heaven  and  earth  V 

*  Yes.' 

^  ^  If  so,  I  must  be  lost  entirely ;  I  should  go  to  hell ; 
because  I  should  have  no  Saviour.  But  don't  talk  in 
that  way,  Mr.  Alick.  I  know  very  well  he  is  the 
King  ;  he  is  the  Lord ;  he  will  save  me,  a  poor  little 
sinful  child,  and  he  will  save  you,  if  you  believe  in 
him.' 

But  Alick  felt  as  if  he  was  farther  off  from  believ- 
ing than  ever :  he  longed  to  be  ashore  again,  and  to 
plunge  into  the  scenes  that  promised  so  greatly  to 
excite  him.  His  father's  state  of  health  depressed  his 
spirits  ;  and  on  the  whole  he  had  lost  so  much  of  the 
buoyancy  that  once  distinguished  him,  as  to  make 
Captain  Ryan  anxious  too  for  his  arrival  in  a  more 
stirring  place.  They  made  the  passage  as  favourably 
as  they  could  wish  ;  and  with  a  very  great  accession 
of  scriptural  knowledge  so  far  as  the  Hebrew  Bible 

15* 


174 

went,  and  not  a  little  improvement  in  the  languages 
most  requisite  to  be  studied  preparatory  to  a  tour  in 
those  deeply  interesting  countries,  Alick  approached 
the  shores  of  Palestine. 

This  interval,  so  unexpectedly  occurring,  had  been 
of  immense  use  to  him:  he  vv^as  aware  of  it,  and 
secretly  thankful.  Towards  the  Ryans  his  regard 
daily  increased ;  and  the  tender  care  bestowed  on  his 
sick  father  doubly  endeared  them.  '  I  am  sure,'  said 
Mr.  Cohen,  '  I  am  doing  right,  Alick,  in  leaving  you 
with  such  friends,  if  I  must  leave  you ;  but  to  say 
truth,  the  breezes  that  have  reached  me  from  that 
glorious  land  seem  to  have  infused  new  life  into  me 
already ;  and  who  knows  but  I  too  may  go  up  to 
Jerusalem  ? 


CHAPTER  XII. 

'  Yonder  they  rise,  the  mountain  heights  of  Judea,' 
said  Captain  Ryan,  shortly  after  their  landing,  while 
Alick  strained  his  eyes  to  trace  the  blue  outline  dis- 
tinctly marked  on  the  horizon.  '  I  could  tell  of  some 
who,  by  toilsome  efforts,  through  privations  that  you 
can  scarcely  imagine  the  existence  of,  and  amid 
dangers  now  happily  at  an  end,  just  reached  this  spot, 
and  having  gazed  on  these  hills,  lay  down  to  die. 
The  privilege  of  entering  within  the  holy  city  was 
denied  them ;  but  to  lay  their  bones  so  near  it  was 
counted  a  blessing  well  worth  the  expenditure  of  their 
little  remaining  strength,  and  of  the  hoard  accumula- 
ted during  many  years'  struggle  against  adversity, 
persecution,  and  all  the  storms  that  beat  upon  their 
heads  during  the  bitterest  season  of  Israel's  universal 
affliction.' 

Alick  made  no  reply :  his  eyes  were  rivetted  on  the 
mountain-tops ;  and  Captain  Ryan,  wishing  to  leave 
him  to  the  unrestrained  indulgence  of  feelings  which 
he  well  understood,  took  advantage  of  the  appearance, 
of  an  Arab  in  the  contrary  direction,  to  make,  as  he 
said,  some  inquiries  concerning  the  army  of  Ibrahim 
Pasha,  lately  assembled  in  that  neighbourhood ;  and 
proceeded  to  accost  the  Ishmaelite. 

Thus  left  alone,  Alick  at  once  threw  himself  on  a 


176 

bank,  with  head  propped  on  his  hand,  and  abandoned 
himself  to  the  emotion  that  he  had  found  it  scarcely- 
possible  so  long  to  suppress.  Sighs,  increasing  to 
sobs,  burst  from  his  bosom,  and  tears  flowed  unre- 
strained, while  with  a  mixture  of  pride,  grief,  shame, 
and  indignation,  the  master  passion  of  his  soul  so 
lately  roused  into  existence,  but  already  absorbing 
everything  else — ^the  love  of  his  country,  beat  in 
every  vein.  After  a  long  interval,  it  found  vent  in 
words  that  he  would  not  have  breathed  to  mortal  ear. 
'  Land  of  my  fathers,  the  inheritance  of  Abraham, 
Isaac,  and  Jacob,  and  of  their  seed  for  ever — Our 
own  land,  our  pleasant  land,  the  glory  of  all  lands, 
why,  why  should  this  be  ?  Did  not  the  Lord  our  God 
give  us  the  land,  by  a  covenant  confirmed  with  an 
oath,  and  a  promise  to  cast  out  the  nations  and  to 
plant  us  in  it,  and  to  establish  us  there  for  ever ;  and 
must  the  rightful  possessors  of  those  blessed  hills,  look 
upon  them  from  a  distant  spot,  and  count  it  a  privilege 
to  die  so  near  Jerusalem,  while  the  soil  itself  is  tram- 
pled down  by  the  feet  of  its  enemies,  and  Zion  is 
profaned  by  the  presence  of  false  gods,  abominable 
idols,  and  whatsoever  the  Lord  hateth  ?  Judah  has 
couched  indeed,  he  has  laid  down,  but  is  it  as  a  lion? 
and  oh,  who  shall  rouse  him  up  !  At  this  very  mo- 
ment my  people  have  power,  if  but  the  Lord  would 
raise  a  Joshua  to  lead  them  on — power  to  march  upon 
the  hosts  of  unbelieving  usurpers,  and  expel  them 
from  the  holy  land.  I  am  sure  of  it :  in  numbers  we 
are  formidable  ;  in  our  wealth  we  possess  the  means 
of  forming  mighty  alhances  ;  in  intellect,  in  enter- 
prise, in  perseverance  are  we  behind-hand  with  any 


177 

-  people  under  heaven  ?     It  is  because   her  sons  are  ' 
-% alien  in  heart  that  Jerusalem  is  trodden  down,  and-^ 
-J'udea  a  desolation  !     Every  mongrel  tribe  of  Gentile 
•race  may  establish  a  footing  there ;  but  they  to  whom, 
•►the  land  wholly  belongs  may  plant  no  foot  except  by 
degrading  sufferance  :  every  flaunting  flag  may  wave 
in  the  breezes  of  Judea,  and  bespeak  a  political  exis- 
tence  connected  with   the    country,  except  the  lion 
standard   of  Judah.       Her   own  masters    alone    are 
scorned,  her  own  leaders   alone   are  proscribed,  her 
own  sons   alone    are   contumaciously  banished  from 
that  country,  my  country,  the  country  which  God  gave 
to  me,  and  which  man  shall  not  much  longer  with- 
hold.'     He   sprang  to  his  feet ;    and  almost  uncon- 
sciously shaking  his  clenched  fist  towards  the   spot 
from  which  his  eyes  had  never  been  withdrawn,  he 
repeated  with  fiery  determination,  '  The  land  is  ours ; 
and  restore  it  you  shall,  ye   motley  herd  of  Turks, 
Christians,  and  nondescript  vagabonds,  who  dare  de- 
file it  by  your  presence  !' 

His  extended  arm  was  suddenly  grasped  from  be- 
hind ;  and  looking  round  he  beheld  a  stranger,  habited 
in  one  of  the  varieties  of  costume  that  he  had  seen 
in  the  bazaar  of  Jaffa  the  preceding  evening,  when, 
after  debarcation,  Captain  Ryan  had  taken  him  for  a 
hasty  stroll  round  the  place.  A  robe,  rather  short, 
trowsers  not  so  loose  as  the  generality  of  those  he 
had  seen,  and  a  high  flat  red  cap,  with  a  single  nar- 
row roll  of  purple  muslin  passed  round  the  lower 
edge,  formed  the  dress  ;  but  in  the  countenance  Alick 
could  not  help  tracing  a  strong  resemblance  to  his 
own ;  allowing  for  some  ten  or  twelve  years  differ- 


178 

ence,  and  the  addition  of  a  short,  close-curled  beard, 
and  a  more  lofty  arch  of  the  black  eyebrow  than  he 
had  been  accustomed  to  see  even  among  his  own 
race.  The  glance  that  met  his  was  not  friendly  :  it 
bespoke  a  degree  of  menace,  and  yet  more  of  con- 
tempt ;  and  while  the  left  hand  of  the  intruder  still 
grasped  his  arm,  and  the  other  hand  was  held  back 
from  view.  Alick's  mind  underwent  an  unpleasant 
transition,  from  the  warlike  emotion  just  excited,  to 
the  consciousness  that  he  was  wholly  unarmed,  and 
in  the  power  of  a  very  questionable  companion. 
However,  he  spoke  at  once,  and  in  a  tone  by  no 
means  indicative  of  alarm,  and  inquired  in  Italian 
what  the  stranger  wanted  with  him.  A  shake  of  the 
head  conveyed  the  rejection  of  this  language  ;  he 
then  tried  the  same  query  in  imperfect  Arabic  ;  to 
which  the  stranger  responded,  by  asking  him  what  he 
did  there. 

This  was  not  so  easily  to  be  told  by  a  smattering 
beginner  in  the  language  :  he  therefore  took  the  short- 
est phrase  he  could  master,  and  pointing  again  to  the 
mountain  he  said,  '  It  is  my  country.' 

'  You  are  a  Frank,'  said  the  other,  glancing  scorn- 
fully at  his  dress. 

'  I  am  a  Jew,'  replied  Alick,  proudly.  His  arm  was 
immediately  liberated,  but  the  gaze  by  no  means  re- 
laxed, while  in  choice  Hebrew  the  stranger  enquired, 
'  Wherefore  did  you  lift  your  hand  in  wrath  towards 
the  holy  hill  V 

'  I  lifted  my  hand,'  replied  Alick,  while  his  eyes 
sparkled  with  joy,  ^  against  the  unholy  people  who 
pollute  by  their  presence  the  mountains  of  the  Lord.' 


179 

'  And  you  are  not  afraid  to  avow  yourself,  in  such  a 
place  and  in  such  company  !'  remarked  the  stranger, 
in  excellent  English.  '  When  such  a  heart  is  put  into 
our  people  a  little  more  extensively,  Cohen,  we  shall 
soon  repossess  our  land,  and  rejoice  together  upon  the 
mountains  of  Israel.  I  see  you  are  surprised,  and  no 
marvel :  you  do  not  recollect  me  ;  for  you  were  a  mere 
child  when  I  visited  your  father's  house.  I  am  now 
a  resident  in  this  country,  and  to-day  had  the  unex- 
pected pleasure  of  meeting  my  old  friend  in  the  nar- 
row streets  of  Jaffa.  He  sent  me  in  quest  of  you,  and 
I  found  you  engaged  as  he  led  me  to  expect.  I  heard 
your  indignant  exclamation,  and  put  your  courage  to 
the  test  which  it  stood  so  well.  We  are  co-religion- 
ists ;  and  co-heirs  of  that  glorious  land,  which  is  at  this 
moment  ours  of  right ;  and  which  by  might  shall  yet 
be  ours  in  the  face  of  the  whole  world,  and  to  their 
confusion  if  they  dare  to  resist  us.' 

The  tone,  the  look,  the  gesture  that  accompanied 
these  proud  words  bespoke  an  enthusiasm  so  akin  to 
that  of  young  Cohen,  that  his  very  soul  seemed  to  ex- 
pand in  an  atmosphere  more  congenial  than  any  he 
had  ever  yet  breathed  in :  he  caught  and  grasped  the 
outstretched  hand  of  his  energetic  companion,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  Those  hills,  those  everlasting  hills,  the  land- 
marks of  our  beauteous  Canaan  !  shall  it  indeed  be 
ours  to  fight  our  way  within  the  barrier,  and  inch  by 
inch  to  win  all  back  from  the  accursed  enemies  of  our 
God  ?  Have  you  a  band,  a  little  band,  prepared  for 
the  enterprise  ?  Oh  with  what  joy  shall  I  enrol  my- 
self among  that  chosen  few :  and  in  the  strength  of 
the  Lord  be  strong  to  do  exploits !' 


180 

"  Gideon^s  three  hundred  would  suffice/  replied  his 
new  friend :  '  or  Jonathan  with  his  armour-bearer 
alone :  but  we  must  wait,  alas !  we  must  await  the 
token  from  Him  who  of  old  bade  Moses  "  Speak  to  the 
children  of  Israel  that  they  go  forward."  ' 

'  You  said  just  now  that  it  should  by  yours  by 
might,'  remarked  Alick,  almost  reproachfully. 

'  Ay,  but  not  by  man's  might,  until  the  Lord  vouch- 
safes once  more  to  be  our  Banner.  That  day  ap- 
proaches fast :  bone  shall  come  to  his  bone,  scattered 
and  dry  as  the  bones  now  are  ;  and  when  the  Breath 
breathes  into  the  mass,  then  shall  Judah  and  Ephraim 
together  arise,  an  exceeding  great  army,  prepared  to 
march, — march  to  yonder  glorious  hills,  over  this  soil 
(and  he  stamped  his  foot  on  it)  and  over  every  plain 
that  grovels  at  the  feet  of  our  own  mountain  land. 
The  might,  the  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  shall  per- 
form this.' 

'  You  seem  very  fond  of  the  Bible,'   said  Alick. 

'  Am  I  not  a  Jew  ?  Are  not  the  Holy  Books  at 
once  our  personal  and  pohtical  history,  our  statistics 
and  our  charter  ?' 

Every  word  spoken  by  this  impetuous  man,  whose 
countenance  expressed  all  the  fire  and  buoyancy  of 
youth,  combined  with  the  decision  of  ripened  man- 
hood, increased  Alick' s  delight  in  him.  After  a  short 
pause,  the  stranger  resumed;  and  while  he  spoke,  his 
eyes  softened  into  the  deepest  sadness  of  heart-struck 
humility — '  Come,  Cohen,  right  well  we  know  why  it 
is  that  you  and  I  stand  here  gazing  with  wistful  long- 
ings on  a  land  from  which  we  are  thrust  out,  and 
which  is  yet  sealed  against  our  return  :  and  knowing 


181 

llie  evil,  we  know  the  remedy.  Yonder  lies  Jerusa- 
lem, our  holy  and  beautiful  city ;  let  us  now  stand  and 
spread  forth  our  hands  towards  it,  and  pray.  It  may 
be  that  He,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel,  will  hear  from  his 
dwelling-place,  and  hearing,  will  forgive.' 

They  stood  with  outstretched  arms  and  eyes  fixed 
on  the  heaven  above  where  they  supposed  the  beloved 
city  to  be,  and  the  elder  uttered  one  of  the  sublime 
prayers  of  the  Jewish  liturgy,  comprising  a  deep  con- 
fession of  sin,  an  acknowledgment  that  for  the  iniqui- 
ties of  the  people  they  were  driven  away,  and  kept  in 
perpetual  affliction  :  and  most  passionate  intreaty  for 
pardon,  and  restoration  to  their  own  land.  Alick  had 
often  unthinkingly  run  through  that  very  supplication 
in  Duke's  Place  ;  every  word  was  familiar  to  him ; 
but  what  new  and  thrilling  emotion  did  every  word 
excite  in  his  breast,  now  that  the  very  scene  was  be- 
fore his  eyes,  and  the  inmost  longings  of  his  spirit  had 
something  so  tangible  to  fix  on  !  They  prayed  stand- 
ing and  covered,  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  a  third 
person,  who,  lowly  kneeling  and  bare-headed  echoed 
the  prayer  from  his  very  heart.  It  was  Captain  Ryan, 
who  had  come  up  behind  a  natural  hedge  of  the 
prickly  pear,  expecting  to  find  Alick  alone,  as  he  left 
him  ;  and  who  had  heard  the  invitation  given,  which 
he  rightly  supposed  would  not  have  been  extended  to 
a  Gentile  like  himself:  he  therefore  remained  out  of 
sight,  but  closely  united  in  spirit  with  the  praying 
Jews :  and  as  they  concluded,  he  softly  stole  away,  too 
honourable  to  overhear  their  private  discourse. 

Da  Costa,  as  the  stranger  Jew  instructed  Alick  to 
call  him,  reconducted  his  companion  to  Jaffa,  where 

16 


182     '  judah's  lion. 

Mr.  Cohen  very  warmly  expressed  his  pleasure  on  see- 
ing them  together,  and  enquired  for  Captain  Ryan. 
Alick  slightly  coloured  on  recollecting  the  unceremo- 
nious way  in  which  he  had  left  the  place  where  his 
Irish  friend  was  likely  again  to  seek  him,  and  men- 
tioned the  circumstance  ;  but  the  Captain's  appearance 
soon  set  him  at  ease  on  that  ground,  though  a  degree 
of  shyness  that  he  felt  stealing  more  and  more  over 
him  in  reference  to  those  Christian  guides  who  had 
laid  him  under  obligations  so  deep,  was  really  painful 
to  his  spirit.  Da  Costa  soon  became  extremely  so- 
ciable with  a  person  whose  manners  not  a  little  re- 
sembled his  own,  in  point  of  frankness,  energy  and 
vivacity  ;  they  conversed  a  good  deal  on  general  and 
local  subjects  ;  mutually  pleased  in  proportion  as  they 
discovered  more  of  each  other's  tastes  and  pursuits. 
*  I  like  your  countrymen,  Captain  Ryan,'  said  Da 
Costa:  *  they  are  far  more  accessible  than  the  Eng- 
lish ;  and  besides,  there  seems  to  be  among  you  a 
strong  tinge  of  Jewish  blood.  Have  you  ever  heard 
of  that  before?' 

*  Undoubtedly :  the  opinion  is  prevalent  that  we, 
the  native  race  of  Ireland,  owe  our  origin,  at  least  in 
part,  to  a  tribe  of  Israelites  who,  after  being  repulsed 
in  many  other  quarters,  found  a  welcome  and  a  home 
in  the  green  Isle,  where  they  established  themselves, 
and  imparted,  in  process  of  time,  the  privileges  of 
Hebrew  descent  to  a  large  portion  of  the  Islanders.' 

'  So  I  have  heard  sir :  and  I  for  one  feel  pleasure 
in  believing  it  to  be  so.  But  now,  supposing  it 
proved,  and  that  you  are  one  of  the  stock  so  far  He- 
braized, what  part  do  you  expect  to  bear  in  the  great 


188 

event  of  our  coming  restoration?'  This  was  asked 
smilingly,  and  even  playfully,  and  Captain  Ryan  smi- 
led too  ;  but  before  he  could  answer,  Charley,  whose 
face  had  crimsoned  while  he  listened  to  the  ques- 
tion, ran  up  to  Da  Costa,  and  seizing  his  robe  said, 
*  We  shall  be  one  of  the  ten  nations  that  will  take 
hold  of  your  skirt,  and  say,  We  will  go  with  you  ;  for 
we  have  seen  that  God  is  with  you  of  a  truth.' 

'  My  fine  little  fellow!'  exclaimed  Da  Costa,  lift- 
ing him  high  in  his  arms,  ^  where  did  you  learn  that?' 

'  Out  of  the  book  of  Zechariah,  sir :  Mr.  Alick 
knows  all  about  it.' 

'  Zechariah  prophesies  great  things  for  us,'  remarked 
the  other,  addressing  Mr.  Cohen. 

'  Yes,'  replied  Charley,  '  he  says  there  shall  be  a 
fountain  opened  in  Jerusalem  for  sin  and  uncleanness  ; 
and  he  says  you  shall  look  on  Him  whom  you  pierced, 
and  mourn  for  him.' 

'  And  who  did  we  pierce,  my  little  commentator  V 

*  Jesus  Christ :  and  when  you  see  that  He  is  the 
Messiah,  and  that  He  is  the  Lord,  then  you  will  be 
sorry  for  what  you  did  unknowingly,  you  know.' 

*  Yes,'  answered  the  other  smiling,  '  when  we  see 
it  we  shall  be  very  sorry,  I  am  sure.'  Then  setting 
the  child  down  and  stroking  his  head  kindly,  he 
added,  '  Always  speak  out,  my  boy :  honesty  is  a 
rare  virtue.' 

^  Oh,  then  you  do  believe  it,  do  you  ?  you  love  the 
Lord  Jesus,  do  you  ?'  cried  Charley  with  great  de- 
light. 

'  No,  that  does  not  follow :  but  you  may  be  a  very 


184  JftJbAH's   LION. 

good  Christian,  and  I  a  verj^  good  Jew,  and  we  may 
remain  excellent  friends  all  the  while.' 

*  No,  we  can't,'  replied  the  boy  quickly:  ^  for  if 
one  of  us  were  to  die,  there  would  be  an  end  to  our 
friendship  ;  and  one  of  us  may  die  directly  ;  and  then 
what's  the  good  of  being  such  friends  as  that,  Mr. 
Jew!' 

Da  Costa  looked  surprised,  and  a  shade  of  dis- 
pleasure passed  over  his  countenance,  while  he  said 
to  Captain  Ryan,  still,  however,  affectionately  cares- 
sing the  child,  '  Do  you  think  this  a  good  system  of 
education.  Captain  ?  I  confess  I  don't  like  the  pros- 
elytizing mania :  we  never  seek  to  convert  you, 
and  why  you  should  be  so  bent  on  our  apostacy  I  can- 
not tell.* 

*  Before  I  answer  you,  pray  tell  me,  have  you  read 
the  New  Testament?* 

'  Ay  ;  through  and  through  ;  and  with  the  greatest 
attention.' 

*  And  what  impression  did  it  leave  on  your  mind  ?' 

*  Just  so  much  impression  as  the  shadow  of  yon 
floating  cloud  has  left  on  the  objects  over  which  it 
passed.  I  was  a  Jew  before  I  read  it :  and  having 
read  I  was  as  much  a  Jew  as  ever.' 

*  You  would  have  been  twice  as  much  a  Jew  had 
you  received  the  testimony  which  it  bears  to  the  King 
of  the  Jews.  But  answer  me  honestly  to  this,  did 
you,  before  investigating  that  book,  or  during  the 
investigation,  pray  for  divine  light  to  guide  you  into 
all  truth  V 

*  No  ;  for  having  all  truth  in  my  possession,  while 
1  hold  the  law  and  the  prophets,  I  should  be  belying 


JUDAH  S   LION.  185 

my  faith,  and  mocking  the  Most  High,  if  I  ask  to  be 
guided  into  what  I  know  does  not  exist' 

'  Well,  then,  did  you  pray  to  be  kept  from  error  V 

*  No,  I  do  not  remember  that  I  did :  I  had  one 
touchstone,  "  Hear,  O  Israel,"  and  whatever  militates 
against  the  unity  of  the  God  of  Israel  is  by  that 
touchstone  at  once  exposed  and  shivered  to  atoms.' 
He  spoke  this  with  an  expression  of  mingled  indigna- 
tion and  contempt. 

'  I  grant  it :  but  the  great  mystery  that  you  reject 
courts  a  contact  with  that  touchstone.  You  do  not 
try  it  fairly,  because  you  do  not  ask  of  the  Lord  to 
show  you  what,  if  it  be  true,  is,  must  be,  a  mystery  to 
human  reason,  and  apprehended  only  by  faith;  which 
faith  is  the  gift  of  God  given  for  man's  justification,  as 
your  own  Scriptures  declare  ;  for  Moses  says,  "  Abra- 
ham believed  God,  and  He  counted  it  unto  him  for 
righteousness,"  and  Habbakkuk  says,  "  The  just  shall 
live  by  his  faith."  Isaiah  asks,  "  Who  hath  believed 
our  report,  and  to  whom  is  the  arm  of  the  Lord  re- 
vealed?" 1  could  cite  many  more  passages  to  the 
same  effect ;  but  I  will  only  direct  your  attention  to 
one,  and  that  an  awful  one  : — you  will  find  it  in  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Isaiah.' 

*  What  is  it?'  asked  Mr.  Cohen. 

'It  is  this,'  answered  Captain  Ryan;  and  he  read 
the  passage,  "  Go,  and  tell  this  people.  Hear  ye  in- 
deed, but  understand  not ;  and  see  ye  indeed,  but 
perceive  not :  make  the  heart  of  this  people  fat,  and 
make  their  ears  heavy,  and  shut  their  eyes;  lest  they 
see  with  their  eyes,  and  hear  with  their  ears,  and 

16* 


186  judah's  lion. 

understand  with  their  heart,  and  convert,  and  be 
healed.' 

'  And  you  apply  this  to  us,  because  we  reject  certain 
additions  made  by  man  to  the  word  of  God  V  said  Da 
Costa. 

'  It  must  apply  to  you,  for  Isaiah  wrote  of  no  other 
people  ;  and  according  to  your  own  declaration  you 
receive  the  whole  of  the  Old  Testament  without  a 
cavil.  It  is  against  a  farther  revelation  of  God,  con- 
tinually referred  to  in  those  Scriptures,  that  you  close 
your  eyes,  ears,  heart;  and  you  will  not  even  put  up 
a  secret  silent  prayer,  to  have  the  veil  taken  away 
which  we  assert  is  upon  your  heart ;  and  if  it  be  not 
there,  surely  such  prayer  can  do  no  harm.  The  Lord 
will  not  answer  a  petition  for  more  light  by  deepening 
your  present  darkness.' 

'  That  is  the  point :  we  have  light  in  abundance  : 
and  to  ask  for  more  would  be  to  ask  a  vain  thing.' 

*  Your  fathers  thought  the  same.  Do  you  remem- 
ber a  passage  in  the  Gospel,  where  Jesus  cured  a 
blind  man,  and  so  provoked  the  boastful  rebukes  of 
the  Pharisees,  who  scoffingly  asked  him,  "  Are  we 
bhnd  also?"  Jesus  answered  them,  "  If  ye  were  blind, 
ye  should  have  no  sin  ;  but  now  ye  say,  we  see,  there- 
fore your  sin  remaineth."  ' 

'  I  don't  remember  it ;  but  no  doubt  you  quote 
correctly.' 

'  Yes :  and  without  recollecting  it  you  express  the 
very  same  thing  that  they  did.  You  boast  of  seeing 
— of  having  as  much  light  as  you  require  :  and  indeed, 
the  light  you  have  in  the  Old  Testament  is  a  true 
light,  shining  in  a  dark  place  ;  but  its  purpose  is  to 

17 


# 


187 

show  you  a  path  whereby  you  may  emerge  and  walk 
in  the  blaze  of  day.  It  is  because  you  neglect  this 
use  of  the  light  already  vouchsafed,  that  you  offend 
the  gracious  Giver,  and  remain  under  his  displeasure. 
Oh,  that  you  would  search,  not  only  carefully  but 
prayerfully,  the  record  which  God  hath  given  us  of  his 
Son!' 

Da  Costa  shook  his  head  ;  and  Captain  Ryan  de- 
sisted from  pressing  the  point  further  at  that  time. 
They  parted  in  perfect  cordiality,  arranging  an  excur- 
sion for  the  morrow  to  explore  the  adjacent  country. 
Charley  eagerly  asked  whether  they  should  see  the 
house  of  Simon  the  tanner,  to  which  Da  Costa  replied 
that  he  would  take  care  he  should  visit  the  spot 
celebrated  as  the  remains  of  that  same  house.  He 
left  them  all  delighted  with  his  evidently  noble  cha- 
racter, and  Captain  Ryan,  while  he  foresaw  a  great 
hinderance  to  Alick's  progress  in  the  society  of  so 
determined  an  opposer,  rejoiced  in  the  hope  that 
always  animated  him  when  he  met  a  Hebrew  zealous 
in  the  law,  like  Saul  of  Tarsus  ;  and  promising  equal 
zeal  in  whatsoever  the  Lord  might  enable  him  to  re- 
ceive. He  pondered  on  the  strange  anomaly  of  a 
man  who  sincerely  believed  in  God  as  the  Author  of 
all  truth  and  Preserver  from  all  error,  declining  to 
beseech  help  from  Him  when  studying  what  he  be- 
lieves to  be  a  false  and  dangerous  fable.  It  is  the 
enemy  of  souls  who  tempts  men  to  this  proud  reliance 
on  themselves :  and  surely  the  prayer  of  every  one 
who  loves  Israel  snould  daily  ascend,  that  they  may 
turn  to  the  Lord :  because  when  they  do  so,  the  veil 
shall  be  taken  away. 


i 


CHAPTER  XII. 

No  real  amendment  took  place  in  the  health  of  Mr. 
Cohen  ;  his  debility  increased,  and  a  feverish  ten- 
dency bespoke  the  danger  of  continued  exposure  to  a 
relaxing  climate.  A  few  days  decided  his  plans  ;  and 
finding  that  the  man-of  war  still  remained  in  the  port 
of  Valetta,  and  that  an  opportunity  presented  itself 
for  returning  thither  by  a  shorter  route  than  he  had 
anticipated,  he  resolved  on  availing  himself  of  it. 
Their  approaching  separation  rendered  every  hour 
precious  to  Alick  that  he  could  pass  with  his  father : 
consequently,  aU  excursions  were  suspended  in  which 
he  could  not  join  without  fatigue. 

Da  Costa,  however,  managed  to  render  their  limited 
sphere  of  observation  very  interesting  by  the  rich  store 
of  local  and  historical  knowledge  with  which  his  mind 
was  furnished,  and  his  intimate  acquaintance  with 
the  characters  both  of  the  country  and  the  people 
around  them.  The  Bazaar  of  Jaffa  was  a  favourable 
spot  for  the  display  of  such  information  ;  and  Char- 
ley's inquisitiveness  was  sure  to  draw  it  aU  out.  Da 
Costa  was  fond  of  children,  and  this  Irish  boy  quite 
won  his  heart ;  to  the  surprise  of  his  parents,  how- 
ever, Charley  remained  true  to  hifdecided  preference 
for  Alick.  He  warmly  returned  Da  Costa's  affection- 
ate regard,  but  a  smile  from  his  first  friend  was  evi- 


t 


189 

dently  of  more  value  in  his  sight  than  all  that  the 
really  fascinating  stranger  could  do  or  say  to  please 
him.  This  was  the  more  remarked  by  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Ryan,  because  Alick  had  become  so  habitually 
silent  and  thoughtful,  that  it  formed  quite  a  contrast, 
not  only  to  his  lively  countryman,  but  to  his  former 
self.  Charley  often  stood  beside  Da  Costa,  or  sate 
on  his  knee,  listening  with  delight  to  his  animated 
conversation  ;  but  he  was  sure  to  steal  away  before 
long,  and  to  settle  himself  in  his  old  station,  his  bright 
curls  spreading  on  Alick' s  shoulder,  and  his  eye  fre- 
quently turned  to  discover  how  his  friend  enjoyed  what 
was  passing  around  them. 

*  Dear  child !'  whispered  Mrs.  Ryan  to  her  hus- 
band on  one  of  these  occasions ; — '  They  say  we  are 
a  fickle  people,  unstable  in  our  attachments  ;  but  that 
babe  is  a  living  contradiction  to  the  assertion.  Do 
but  look  how  lovingly  he  watches  every  turn  of  Alick' s 
countenance.' 

'  I  do  observe  it,  my  dear ;  and  it  affords  me  more 
satisfaction  than  you  are  aware  of 

One  of  the  first  visits  made  by  the  party  was  to  the 
reputed  house  of  Simon  the  tanner.  The  consul  to 
whom  it  belonged  had  given  a  ready  permission  to 
explore  every  corner  of  the  old  ruin,  which  was,  in- 
deed, a  work  of  no  difiiculty. 

'And  is  this  Simon's  house?'  asked  Charles,  in 
a  tone  where  doubt  and  disappointment  seemed  to 
predominate. 

'  So  they  say,'  answered  Da  Costa. 

'  Ah,  but  do  you  your  own  self  say  it  is  ?'  persisted 
Charley. 


i 


190  judah's  lion. 

*  How  can  I  tell?  Or,  indeed,  what  does  it  matter, 
so  long  as  people  agree  to  believe  it  is;  and  so  are 
equally  pleased,  whether  it  be  true  or  false.' 

*  Oh,  but  people  shouldn't  be  pleased  with  what  is 
false,'  answered  the  boy  in  his  quick  way ;  and  nobody 
ought  to  agree  to  believe  a  lie.' 

*  If  you  don't  look  sharp  after  this  lad,'  said  Da 
Costa  to  Captain  Ryan,  ^  he'll  fight  his  way  out  of 
all' — he  checked  himself,  and  added,  *  he  will  believe 
no  more  than  can  be  proved  on  unimpeachable  evi- 
dence.' 

'  So  much  the  better,'  answered  the  Captain ; 
whose  eye  had  just  then  caught  the  figure  of  a  Mal- 
tese sailor,  performing  a  variety  of  crossings  and  gen- 
uflexions in  front  of  the  ruin,  with  a  string  of  beads 
depending  from  his  wrist. 

Da  Casta  turned  again  to  Charley.  *  Now  suppose 
it  to  be  all  true,  and  that  this  is  bond  fide  the  house 
where  the  tanner  hved,  what  is  there  in  it  to  make 
you  happy  in  seeing  it  V 

^  I  don't  know  what  bond  fide  is,  sir ;  but  I  like  to 
see  places  where  things  happened.' 

'  Well,  I  have  helped  many  to  a  sight  of  this  place  • 
but  I  confess  I  don't  exactly  know  what  happened 
here.  Can  you  tell  me  the  history  of  this  renowned 
tanner  ?' 

Charley's  eyes  sparkled :  ^  Oh,  it  isn't  the  tanner, 
Mr.  Dockster,'  (so  he  called  the  Jew) — ^  we  know 
nothing  about  him,  only  his  name  ;  but  Peter  lodged 
here  :  and  he  went  up  to  the  top,  there,  to  pray,  and 
— stop,  I'll  read  it ;  for  I  shall  make  a  jumble  if  I 
try  to  tell  you  all.'     He  borrowed  his  papa's  Bible, 


191 

and  read  the  particulars,  to  which  the  other  Hstened 
very  attentively,  as  did  both  the  Cohens.  Having 
ended,  he  shut  the  hook,  and  said,  '  It  all  comes  to 
this,  Mr.  Dockster ;  up  to  that  time  you  Jews  had  the 
true  religion  all  to  yourselves ;  but  here,  here,'  and 
he  looked  joyfully  up  again  to  the  dark,  dull  pile  of 
broken  building,  '  we  poor  Gentiles  were  let  in,  you 
see.' 

'  No,  no ;'  said  Da  Costa,  involuntarily,  as  he 
turned  away,  with  a  look  of  displeasure  not  usually 
seen  on  his  cheerful  countenance.  Captain  Ryan 
immediately  asked,  '  Do  you  mean  to  deny  that  a 
participation  in  your  spiritual  blessings  was  promised 
to  the  Gentiles  V 

Da  Costa  answered  in  Hebrew,  ^  "  You  only  have 
I  known,  of  all  the  families  of  the  earth."  ' 

*  True ;  at  the  time  those  words  were  spoken,  no 
nation  upon  earth,  save  Israel  alone,  knew  the  true 
God,  or  were  acknowledged  by  him  as  his  people : 
but,  versed  as  you  are  in  the  Scriptures,  a  moment's 
reflection  will  bring  innumerable  passages  to  your 
mind  where,  through  you,  a  blessing  is  promised  to 
Gentile  lands.  Take,  for  example,  the  promises 
given,  and  continually  repeated  to  Abraham  himself. 
"  In  thy  seed  shall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
blessed."     How  do  you  explain  this  ?' 

*  It  is  not  yet  accomplished,'  rephed  Da  Costa, 
evidently  not  wishing  to  prolong  the  discussion  which 
he  had  inadvertently  provoked ;  but  seeing  his  oppo- 
nent by  no  means  disposed  to  let  it  drop,  he  added, 
with  some  warmth,  '  I  never  can,  I  never  will  for  a 
moment  credit  the  tale  that  any  part,  not  to  say  the 


192 

whole  of  the  law  delivered  with  such  terrible  signs 
and  awful  sanctions  to  my  fathers,  through  their  great 
leader,  Moses,  was  abrogated  by  the  visionary  ap- 
pearance of  a  bundle  of  beasts  to  an  obscure  fisherman 
on  the  top  of  a  house,'  and  he  looked  scornfully  up. 

'  In  the  first  place,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  nothing 
was  abrogated  in  the  way  you  mention.  A  remark- 
able vision  bearing  upon  a  particular  branch  of  the 
national  dispensation,  was  so  explained  to  Peter's 
understanding  as  to  induce  a  ready  obedience  to  the 
voice  that  bade  him  go  and  bear  tidings  of  salvation 
to  a  Gentile  inquirer.  The  visionary  sheet  with  its 
contents  descended  from  heaven,  into  which  nothing 
defiling  can  enter ;  and  the  lesson  impressed  on  his 
mind  was  that  God  had  cleansed  them.  The  whole 
was  typical  and  beautifully  expressive.  As  to  the 
individual  being  only  an  obscure  fisherman,  Moses 
was  nothing  greater  in  the  world's  estimation,  when 
keeping  sheep  on  the  mountain  where  the  Lord  first 
appeared  to  him.  Moses,  himself  an  Israelite,  was 
divinely  instructed  to  proclaim  to  the  people  of  Israel 
their  approaching  deliverance  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
the  house  of  bondage.  Peter,  also  an  Israehte,  was 
divinely  commissioned  to  announce  to  the  Gentiles, 
that  unto  them  too  was  granted  repentance  unto  life 
— deliverance  from  the  far  worse  bondage  of  Satan. 
Nor  were  the  signs  that  confirmed  the  divine  mission 
of  Peter  less  marvellous  than  those  vouchsafed  to 
Moses — nay,'  he  added,  as  Da  Costa,  with  crimsoning 
cheek  attempted  to  interrupt  him:  ^hear  me  out. 
The  powers  given  to  such  as  believed  in  those  days, 
were  as  marvellous  9,s  any  on  record.     They  spake 


JUD All's   LION.  192^ 

with  tongues  of  which  they  were  before  wholly  igno- 
rant ;  they  cast  out  devils,  they  healed  the  sick,  they 
recalled  the  dead  to  life.  And  more,  ay  far  more 
than  all  this,  Da  Costa,  they  prevailed  so  to  plant 
this  hated,  persecuted  religion,  without  the  aid  of 
sword  or  spear,  without  the  aid  of  regal  power,  or  an 
atom  of  worldly  influence,  without  even  the  aid  of 
human  wisdom  or  learning,  or  skill,  that  not  all  the 
powers  of  earth  and  hell  combined  could  resist  the 
progress,  or  shake  the  solidity  of  the  work.  Oh,  be- 
lieve me,  what  you  scorn  as  a  bare  invention  of  man, 
is  but  the  continuation,  the  completion  of  God's  glo- 
rious work,  begun  in  the  Mount  Horeb,  finished  on 
Mount  Calvary,  and  yet  to  be  proclaimed  and  estab- 
lished throughout  the  world  from  the  summit  of  the 
Mount  of  Olives,  when  the  feet  of  your  glorious  King 
and  ours  shall  there  stand,  and  his  voice  be  heard, 
and  from  his  presence  the  ungodly,  like  smoke,  shall 
vanish  away.  "  And  the  Lord  shall  be  King  over  all 
the  earth :  in  that  day  there  shall  be  one  Lord,  and 
his  name  one."  ' 

He  gave  the  text  in  Hebrew  ;  and  as  he  stood  facing 
the  fiery  Israelite,  with  a  look,  tone,  action  not  a  whit 
less  fiery  than  his  own.  Da  Costa's  countenance  soft- 
ened into  an  expression  of  gentle  kindness,  evidently 
no  less  natural  to  it  than  the  high  determination  of 
the  preceding  moment.  '  Well,  Ryan,  I,  for  one, 
shall  rejoice  to  see  you,  and  such  as  you,  partakers  in 
the  blessedness  of  that  glorious  period,  which  you  seem 
to  see  at  once  so  clearly  and  through  so  wrong  a  me- 
dium, that  your  faith  furnishes  me  with  the  most  puz- 
zling enigma  I  ever  tried  to  read.     Many  have  talked 

17 


194  judah's  lion. 

in  my  hearing  of  the  same  thing  that  you  continually 
dwell  upon  ;  but  they  speak  after  such  a  cut-and-dried 
fashion,  with  unmoved  muscle,  lack-lustre  eye,  and 
measured,  meanless  tone,  that  the  manner  is  suffi- 
cient antidote  to  the  matter  of  their  discourse.  You, 
on  the  contrary,  fairly  boil  over  from  the  workings  of 
a  mind  thoroughly  heated  by  its  subject.  '  You  are 
in  earnest,'  he  continued  emphatically ;  '  and  I  can 
only  account  for  your  having  such  an  evident  part  in 
our  high  anticipations,  by  remembering  the  national 
claim  to  consanguinity  which  I  believe  you  really  pos- 
sess. So,  my  dear  fellow,  on  this  accommodating 
neutral  ground  we  may  for  the  present  take  our  stand : 
and  time  will  settle  the  rest.' 

Alick  looked  hard  at  Captain  Ryan,  as  if  to  read 
his  thoughts  ;  and  the  latter  said,  '  Not  so.  Da  Costa  : 
there  is  no  neutral  ground  for  either  of  us  to  occupy. 
The  King  whom  we  both  expect  will  be  to  us  a  king 
of  terrors,  if  we  regard  him  not  in  all  the  bearings  of 
his  three -fold  office.  Prophet  and  Priest,  equally  as 
King.  As  Prophet,  he  must  have  somewhat  to  teach 
more  than  Moses  directly  taught ;  for  to  Moses  God 
saith,  "  I  will  raise  them  up  a  Prophet  from  among 
their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words 
in  his  mouth,  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I 
shall  command  him.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that 
whosoever  will  not  hearken  unto  my  words  which  he 
shall  speak  in  my  name,  I  will  require  it  of  him." 
Again,  as  Priest,  he  must  have  a  calling  higher  than 
that  of  the  Levitical  priesthood,  higher  than  Aaron, 
for  David  distinctly  says,  "  The  Lord  hath  sworn,  and 
will  not  repent.  Thou  art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the 


judah's  lion.  195 

order  of  Melchizedek."  Mow  Melchizedek  was,  as 
you  will  see  here,  (Genesis  xiv.  18.)  king  of  Salem, 
and  priest  of  the  Most  High  God  :  he  blessed  Abram 
in  the  name  of  the  Most  High  God :  he  praised  the 
Most  High  God  for  delivering  his  enemies  into  his 
hand;  and  now,  Da  Costa,  what  did  Abram  unto 
Melchizedek  V 

Da  Costa,  who  was  deeply  examining  the  Hebrew 
text,  which  Ryan  all  along  had  quoted,  supplied  the 
answer  from  it.  '  "  He  gave  him  tithes  of  all."  But 
I  don't  see  the  slightest  connexion  between  this  and 
what  we  were  talldng  of 

'  Wait :  we  are  talking  of  Messiah  the  king,  whom 
I  assert  to  be  also  the  Prophet  like  unto  Moses,  and 
the  everlasting  Priest,  after  the  order  of  Melchizedek. 
I  have  said  that  the  promised  Prophet  must  have  a 
farther  revelation  to  make  after  that  of  Moses  :  and  I 
am  showing  that  the  predicted  Priest,  being  after  the 
order  of  Melchizedek,  must  have  a  priesthood  higher 
than  that  of  Aaron ;  for  Abraham,  the  forefather  of 
Levi,  and  of  every  tribe  of  Israel,  received  a  blessing 
from,  and  paid  tithes  to,  this  Melchizedek,  who  was  a 
vivid  type  of  the  Messiah  ;  for  as  a  king,  the  king  of 
Salem,  king  of  Peace,  he  met  and  greeted  Abraham; 
as  a  Prophet  he  announced  him  blessed  of  the  Most 
High  God,  and  as  a  Priest  he  received  at  his  hand 
the  tithe  of  his  spoils — the  exact  provision  afterwards 
divinely  appointed  for  the  Levitical  Priesthood.  Out 
of  your  own  Scriptures  I  draw  these  truths ;  I  lay 
them  before  you ;  I  tell  you  that  in  him  for  whose 
second  coming  I  look,  I  find  all  the  prophetical, 
priestly,  kingly  character  combined  in  glorious  har- 


196  judah's  lion. 

mony,  and  shining  forth  with  divine  effulgence  ;  and 
I  tell  you,  too,  that  unless  we  thus  recognize  him, 
neither  Jew  nor  Gentile  can  hail  his  appearing  other- 
wise than  as  the  signal  for  their  immediate  and  ever- 
lasting destruction.' 

'  You  are  a  master  of  your  suhject,'  said  Da  Costa ; 
'  whereas  I,  having  nothing  at  hand  to  which  I  may 
refer,  and  being  but  indifferently  read  in  the  subtleties 
of  these  controversial  matters,  stand  at  a  manifest  dis- 
advantage. Yet  had  I  even  my  travelling  book-case 
within  reach,  I  would  answer  you.' 

'  Da  Costa,'  said  Ryan  solemnly,  laying  his  hand 
on  his  shoulder,  *  the  coming  for  which  we  look  may 
be  instantaneous ;  or,  by  a  stroke,  sudden  and  unex- 
pected as  the  midnight  flash,  you  may  be  removed 
into  the  world  of  spirits ;  and  in  either  case  you  must 
answer  for  yourself — an  answer  on  which  hangs  your 
eternal  doom.  Oh,  will  it  suffice  you  then  to  talk  of 
a  book-case,  when  the  thrilling  enquiry  is  put,  '  Why 
didst  thou  not  believe  the  writings  of  Moses,  of  David, 
of  all  the  prophets,  when,  taught  by  my  Spirit,  they 
testified  of  me  V  Here,  in  this  narrow  compass  lie  all 
the  books  we  require.  By  Jews,  by  Jews  alone  was 
every  word  written :  you  gave  us  the  bread  of  life, 
and  why  will  you  perish  with  hunger,  while  a  grateful 
Gentile  believer  in  your  own  glorious  Messiah,  im- 
plores you  to  eat  and  be  satisfied :  to  look  and  live !' 

Tears  started  into  the  eyes  of  the  ardent  Christian 
soldier,  as,  pressing  the  sacred  volume  against  the 
bosom  of  the  Jew,  he  gazed  upon  him  with  all  the 
yearnings  of  one  who  sees  his  dearest  benefactor  perish- 
ing and  refusing  to  be  rescued.     Da  Costa's  eyes  were 


197 

wholly  shaded  hy  the  long  dark  lashes  that  fell  over 
them,  bent  as  they  were  on  the  ground ;  and  it  was 
impossible  to  determine  by  what  species  of  emotion 
his  cheek  was  blanched,  his  brow  knit,  and  his  lips 
compressed.  It  might  be  smothered  wrath ;  it  might 
be  wounded  pride  ;  it  might  be  an  awakened  fear  that 
all  was  not  safe  with  him  :  be  it  what  it  might,  all  was 
for  some  moments  silent  and  still  throughout  the 
group.  Mrs.  Ryan's  heart  echoed  the  prayer  which 
she  knew  her  husband  was  silently  breathing  on  be- 
half of  his  Hebrew  friend.  Mr.  Cohen,  seated  on  a 
broken  fragment,  was  deeply  pondering  what  he  heard ; 
and  Alick,  in  whose  arms  little  Charley  had  fallen 
asleep  through  fatigue,  had  his  countenance  lighted 
up  with  a  gladness  which  he  seemed  desirous  of  check- 
ing, or  at  least  of  disguising,  but  he  could  not.  He 
had  longed  to  witness  a  direct  attack  on  either  side, 
where  little  more  than  light  skirmishing  had  hitherto 
taken  place  ;   and  now  his  wish  was  gratified. 

^  The  Gentile,^  thought  he,  '  takes  all  his  argu- 
ments out  of  the  New  Testament  without  owning  it. 
I  have  read  all  that  about  Melchizedek  in  theEpistle  to 
the  Hebrews,  or  I  am  much  mistaken  ;  but  Da  Costa 
thinks  it  is  all  new.  Why  does  not  he  read  for  him- 
self, so  as  to  remember  it  ?  And  why  does  he  not 
now  give  a  reason  for  disbelieving  what  the  other 
says  ?  Oh,  that  I  myself  knew  how  much  to  believe, 
and  how  much  to  reject  of  these  things!'  The  con- 
sciousness of  unsatisfied  doubt  again  saddened  his 
looks ;  and  before  any  one  could  remark  the  smile  of 
pleasure,  it  had  passed  away. 

'  What  a  persevering  fellow  is  that  Irishman/  said 

17* 


198 

Da  Costa  the  next  time  he  was  alone  with  AHck. 
*  Of  just  such  stuff,  I  should  imagine,  were  the  pro- 
selytes of  other  days  made  ;  noble  aspiring  tempers, 
who  hovered  about  Judaism  like  the  moth  around  the 
flame,  till  they  were  caught  and  blended  with  the  all- 
conquering  element.' 

*  Were  you  in  any  way  staggered  by  his  arguments  V 
asked  Alick. 

'  No  ;  but  I  was  mortified  at  being  unable  to  an- 
swer him,  through  my  imperfect  knowledge  of  a  book 
in  which  we  ought  at  least  to  be  as  well  read  as  any 
Gentile.  Of  course,  he  got  his  interpretations  from 
commentators  of  his  own  creed ;  and  he  has  studied 
them  to  good  purpose.' 

'  No,  he  told  me  the  contrary,  he  was  on  service, 
thinking  of  nothing  but  military  fame,  knowing  and 
caring  nothing  about  religion  of  any  sort,  when  by 
some  means  he  got  alarmed  as  to  the  state  he  was  in 
before  God.  It  was  in  a  wild  part  of  India,  far  from 
any  minister,  or  any  books  except  the  Bible  ;  and  for 
a  year  that  was  his  only  teacher,  his  only  comfort. 
He  there  learned  all  that  he  knows  of  religion ;  and 
on  returning  home,  instead  of  sitting  down,  as  he  says, 
to  find  out  what  other  men  had  thought  of  the  matter, 
he  tried  to  rouse  the  minds  of  those  around  him  who 
had  never  thought  about  it  at  all.  He  declares  it 
was  the  Bible  alone  that  led  him  to  take  such  an  in- 
terest in  our  people  ;  and.  from  that  he  gets  his  argu- 
ments to  prove  that  we  are  in  darkness.' 

*  In  other  words,  he  comes  to  our  armoury  for  a 
sword  to  cut  our  throats  with.' 


199 

Yes ;  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I  think  it  a  pity  we 
don't  go  there  ourselves  for  a  shield  to  defend  them.' 

^  That's  true  :  but  he  refers  only  to  the  written  word, 
whereas  we  have  the  oral  law,  equally  binding,  and 
requiring  a  vast  deal  more  study  than  you  or  I  could 
bestow  to  acquaint  ourselves  with  it' 

'  Still,'  said  Alick,  '  as  he  neither  quotes  nor  recog- 
nizes any  thing  of  ours,  but  Moses  and  the  Prophets, 
I  don't  see  why  we  should  not  enable  ourselves  to  meet 
him  there.' 

'  But  we  cannot  rightly  interpret  these  books  with- 
out the  help  of  our  learned  Rabbis,  w^ho  devoted  their 
lives  to  the  discovery  of  hidden  meanings,  not  discerni- 
ble to  such  as  we.' 

'  Then  they  are  not  discernible  to  him,'  rejoined 
Alick,  '  so  we  shall  still  be  on  a  par.  Besides,  to  tell 
you  the  truth,  I  do  not  think  that  God  would  so  write 
his  book  as  to  make  falsehood  appear  on  the  face  of 
it,  and  leave  truth  to  be  discovered  only  by  those  who 
have  learning,  and  leisure  for  intense  study.' 

Da  Costa  shook  his  head:  '  Have  a  care,  Cohen; 
you  are  on  dangerous  ground.' 

^  No,  I  think  not ;  take  any  passage  in  the  prophe- 
cies, touching  our  national  preservation,  restoration, 
triumph  and  perpetuity — we  understand,  we  believe, 
and  rejoice  in  it.  But  listen  to  a  Gentile  commenta- 
tor, you  will  hear  him  setting  aside  the  plain  meaning 
as  figurative,  typical,  and  all  that ;  and  claiming  for 
himself  and  his  uncircumcised  brethren,  what  God  has 
promised  to  the  seed  of  Abraham  alone — and  all  by 
virtue  of  a  hidden  meaning!' 

Da  Costa  was  struck  by  this  argument,  '  You  are 


200  judah's  lion.* 

right,  my  lad :  there  lies  enough  on  the  surface  for  us 
to  glean  a  profitable  harvest.  Shall  we  begin  to  study- 
in  earnest,  a  la  Ryan  V 

*  I  am  past  beginning :  I  have  been  at  it  pretty 
hard  for  weeks.' 

It  was  agreed  that  they  should  read  the  Hebrew 
scriptures  together  daily  ;  and  Alick  felt  happier  than 
he  had  done  for  some  time  :  nor  was  his  pleasure  les- 
sened when  Da  Costa  proposed  that  they  should  oc- 
casionally look  into  the  New  Testament  to  see,  as  he 
said,  how  the  Christians  contrived  to  twist  to  their  own 
purposes  and  meanings  the  words  of  truth.  *  With  all 
my  heart,'  said  Alick :  but  just  remember  one  thing, 
Da  Costa :  I  have  a  great  dislike  to  caUing  names.* 

'  You  are  right,'  replied  the  noble  Israehte.  Scur- 
rility can  form  no  part  of  a  gentleman's  religion; 
from  me  you  will  hear  no  word  of  railing  reproach, 
in  reference  to  what  we  both  most  heartily  disbelieve 
and  detest' 

Alick  could  not  stand  this  appeal  to  his  honesty  * 
he  boldly  said,  '  I  am  far  from  being  persuaded  that  I 
am  bound  to  detest  what,  however,  I  cannot  say  that  I 
believe  :  the  character  of  Jesus  is  a  very  lovely  one,  so 
far  as  I  can  see  ;  and  surely  I  may  regard  it  with  re- 
spect, while  rejecting  his  claims  to  the  Messiahship.' 

'  You  will  see  there  is  no  mediurai,'  observed  Da 
Costa,  very  composedly.  '  However,  our  plan  will 
put  an  end  to  your  doubts,  if  any  exist ;  for  I  know  no 
better  way  to  guard  a  man  against  these  idolatrous 
inventions,  than  to  investigate  the  clumsy  fabrications 
on  which  they  are  grounded,  I  found  it  so  myself; 
a  cursory  perusal  of  that  book  which  they  have  pre- 


201 

sumed  to  bind  up  with  our  sacred  writings,  left  me 
quite  proof  against  the  theological  devices  of  all  the 
Nazarenes  beneath  the  sun.' 

The  eve  of  Mr.  Cohen's  departure  was  spent  chiefly 
in  private  discourse  between  him  and  his  son, '  I  wish 
you,  my  dear  boy,'  he  said,  •  to  cultivate  the  friendship 
of  Da  Costa ;  for  he  is  the  very  soul  of  integrity,  and 
in  every  way  a  delightful,  a  valuable  companion  for 
you  :  yet  in  my  own  place,  I  would  prefer  leaving  the 
Ryans,  as  already  settled ;  not  only  because  they 
have  sacrificed  their  convenience  and  altered  all  their 
plans  for  our  accommodation,  but  that,  really,  I  find 
my  respect  for,  my  confidence  in  them,  daily  increased. 
For  myself,  Alick,  I  am  not  so  strong  as  I  was,  nor 
can  w^e  penetrate  the  decrees  of  the  Most  High,  as  to 
whether  He  will  revive  and  restore  me  or  otherwise  : 
but  this  I  know,  that  my  firm  trust  is  in  Him  who  has 
not  said  to  the  house  of  Jacob,  Seek  ye  me  in  vain.' 

After  a  short  silence,  which  Alick  had  not  power  to 
break,  Mr.  Cohen  asked,  ^  What  was  the  name  of  that 
honest  gunner  on  board  our  old  ship  V 

'  Gordon,  sir,'  answered  Alick ;  in  whose  bosom 
the  question  excited  other  emotions  besides  that  of 
pleased  surprise.  Much  excellent  advice  and  ex- 
pressions of  paternal  love  on  the  one  side,  responded 
to  by  promises  of  obedience,  and  the  overflowings  of 
grateful  affection  on  the  other,  closed  this  interview. 
Alick  scarcely  slept  that  night :  prayers  for  his  dear 
father,  and  thoughts  of  home  that  almost  tempted  him 
to  insist  on  returning,  occupied  the  hours.  But  at 
early  dawn  he  was  roused  by  the  voice  of  Da  Costa, 
who  spoke  of  an-  arrangement  made  with  the  Ryans 


202  JUDAH  S   LION. 

to  start  for  Jerusalem  on  the  following  day ;  and  this, 
as  he  conjectured  it  would,  greatly  softened  to  Alick 
the  pang  of  bidding  a  long  farewell  to  his  fond  parent. 
As  the  little  vessel  scudded  away  from  the  land,  the 
two  young  Hebrews  mounted  a  rising  ground,  to  gaze 
on  its  lessening  sails ;  and  Da  Costa  exclaimed, 
'Lord,  how  long?  Still  must  the  children  of  thy 
chosen  come  to  these  shores,  the  guests  of  a  day,  and 
depart  into  renewed  exile  ?  Oh,  when  wilt  thou  set 
thine  hand  to  gather  us  from  the  four  winds,  and  plant 
thy  people  once  more  upon  the  holy  mountain,  Jeru- 
salem !    Lord,  how  long  V 

No  time  was  lost  in  arranging  for  the  journey  for- 
ward :  and  with  many  delightful  anticipations  of  what 
was  in  store  for  them,  the  strangers — that  is  to  say 
Mrs.  Ryan,  Charley,  and  Alick,  watched  the  progress 
of  preparation  in  which  Da  Costa  took  the  lead. 
Horses  were  provided,  and  a  little  seat  for  Charles 
was,  by  the  clever  contrivance  of  his  father,  so 
arranged  on  the  front  of  his  own  saddle  as  to  secure 
the  boy  both  from  danger  and  the  fatigue  he  must 
otherwise  have  encountered,  unless, — which  he  would 
by  no  means  consent  to, — he  was  so  carried  as  to 
deprive  him  of  a  look-out  on  all  sides. 

'  1  will  see  every  bit  of  the  country,  so  I  will,'  said 
Charley ;  '  for  it  is  God's  own  land,  and  there  is  no 
other  like  it  all  over  the  world.' 

'The  earth  is  the  Lord's,'  remarked  his  mother: 
'  and  every  country  throughout  the  whole  world  is 
Hi.s.' 

'  I  know  it,  mamma ;  but  not  like  this.  Everybody 
has  other  places,  but  nobody  has  the  Holy  Land.' 


203 

*  I  should  like  to  hear  you  make  that  out,'  said  Da 
Costa,  who  was  improving  the  fashion  of  a  cap  to 
defend  the  little  fellow's  eyes  from  the  hot  sun. 

'  I  can't  make  it  out  very  well  for  you,  Mr^  Dockster  ; 
but  sure  I  know  what  I  know,  and  I  know  what  I 
think,  though  I  can't  put  it  in  words.' 

*  Well,  but  try,  Charley :  let  us  know  what  you 
think  too.' 

'  Why  then,  did'nt  God  give  you  this  land  all  to 
yourselves  entirely,  Mr.  Jews  V  asked  the  boy,  ad- 
dressing his  two  friends. 

'  Ay,  that  he  did,'  answered  Da  Costa ;  and  Alick 
added,  <  every  inch  of  it,  Charley,  to  Abraham,  and  to 
his  seed  after  him,  for  ever.' 

*  That's  it,  that's  it,'  shouted  the  little  boy,  taking  a 
jump  like  a  young  kid.  '  He  did'nt  give  it  to  any 
body  else  then.' 

Never — never!' 

Here  the  little  fellow's  countenance  changed  to 
great  and  serious  earnestness ;  he  glided  up  to  Da 
Costa,  and  taking  hold  of  the  end  of  his  sash,  said, 
'  Have  you  got  the  land  now?  have  you?'  and  with- 
out waiting  for  a  reply,  he  went  on,  sorrowfully  shak- 
ing his  head,  '  No,  you  hav'nt,  you  hav'nt  got  it — 

'  The  cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 

But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.' 

The  well-remembered  lines  made  Alick' s  heart  thrill. 
Da  Costa,  who  had  never  heard  the  child  quote  them 
before,  seemed  overwhelmed  with  astonishment. 
Charley  then,  with  great  rapidity,  went  on ;  ^  So  it 
isn't  anybody-else's,  and  you  havn't  got  it;  and  it's 


204  judah's  lion. 

just  like  my  blue  coat  that  was  made  too  big  for  me, 
and  mamma  keeps  it  locked  up  till  I  grow  bigger ; 
and  it's  mine,  and  nobody  else's ;  but  it's  mamma's 
till  I  get  it — and  so,  and  so, — that's  what  I  think,  you 
darling  of  a  Jew !'  and  then,  by  means  of  Da  Costa's 
sash  and  arm  he  climbed  up, — a  manoeuvre  that  Alick 
had  taught  him — and  hung  round  his  neck. 

^  Well  said,  my  boy !'  exclaimed  Captain  Ryan, 
who  with  ineffable  delight  had  listened  to  his  expla- 
nation. ^  This  land  is  the  Lord's  in  a  most  peculiar 
sense  indeed ;  and  in  proof  that  howsoever  it  may  be 
occupied  during  the  interval  of  liis  dear  people's  dis- 
persion, it  actually  belongs  to  no  other  race,  he  shuts 
up  its  fertility,  withholds  the  corn,  the  wine,  the  oil, 
the  milk  and  the  honey,  and  everything  that  consti- 
tuted it  the  glory  of  all  lands,  locking  it  up — no  ex- 
pression could  better  describe  the  thing — until  the 
time  comes  for  the  renewed  occupancy  of  those  to 
whom  it  so  truly  appertains.  What  say  you.  Da 
Costa?' 

'  I  say,  Captain  Ryan,'  answered  the  Jew,  who  had 
all  the  while  been  caressing  Charles  most  fondly, 
'  that  a  man  with  such  arrows  as  this  in  his  quiver 
may  well  stand  in  the  gate,  and  face  every  enemy. 
The  blessing  of  the  race  you  love  be  upon  you,  boy ! 
there  is  more  in  that  young  mind  than  I  can  fathom.' 

They  set  out,  and  all  was  sunshine  around  them. 
How  often  does  the  morning  beam  rest  brightly  where, 
before  evening's  fall,  the  clouds  shall  gather,  and  the 
storm  burst,  and  desolation  overspread  a  path  where 
the  pilgrim  looked  only  for  peace  and  joy  ! 


;  tijj^fcfe^iil^jbi  jj^  - 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  cavalcade  that  left  the  walls  of  Jaffa,  though 
not  an  extensive,  was  yet  a  respectable  one.  Recent 
events  had  opened  the  route  considerably  more  than 
might  have  been  anticipated  fifty  years  before  ;  but 
it  still  was  a  difficult,  and  frequently  an  unsafe  road. 
The  wandering  Arab's  hand,  restrained  by  powerful 
authority,  was  still  against  every  man ;  and  theft,  if 
nothing  worse,  might  be  apprehended,  in  the  absence 
of  due  precaution.  Our  travellers,  therefore,  were 
well  armed,  and  sufficiently  attended.  Alick,  to  his 
infinite  delight,  found  himself  on  the  back  of  a  most 
frolicksome  young  horse  ;  and  Da  Costa,  equally  well 
mounted,  fully  partook  in  the  exhilaration  of  spirit 
that  rose  beyond  control.  Often,  when  the  road  per- 
mitted, the  young  men  resigned  themselves  to  the 
discretion  of  their  fleet  and  fiery  Arabian  steeds, 
making  wide  circuits  at  a  wild  full  gallop,  and  re- 
turning in  breathless  glee  to  their  more  sedate  but 
not  less  cheerful  companions.  It  was  during  one  of 
these  their  excursive  expeditions  that  Mrs.  Ryan  took 
the  opportunity  of  remarking  to  her  husband  '  I  did 
not  think  Alick  would  have  approached  Jerusalem 
in  such  buoyant  spirits.' 

'  Dear  boy  !'  answered  Captain  Ryan,  '  he  has 
been  heavily  oppressed  of  late  ;  and  this  ebullition 

18 


206  judah's  lion. 

of  youthful  joyousness  is  quite  natural.  Do  you  not 
feel  a  gladdening  influence  in  the  soft,  balmy  air,  the 
brilliant  sunbeams,  the  gorgeous  tints  of  those  rich 
flowers,  relieved  by  patches  of  verdure  almost  rival- 
ling that  of  our  own  emerald  isle — that  v^aving  line 
of  majestic  mountains,  and  the  combination  of  mag- 
nificence with  tender  beauty  that  perpetually  meets 
your  eye  V 

'  I  do,  my  love  :  but  yet' — she  hesitated,  and  hung 
her  head  over  the  bridle  that  she  had  been  knotting 
round  her  fingers — 

^  But  what,  Ellen,  dearest?  go  on  and  tell  me  all.' 

'  Indeed,  indeed,  Robert,  I  cannot  feel  joyous. 
These  things  do,  as  you  say,  gladden  me  by  their 
loveliness,  but  the  feeling  is  momentary.  My  heart 
is  sad  :  my  spirit  mourns  and  cries  ^'  Ichabod."  For 
alas !  "  How  hath  the  Lord  covered  the  daughter  of 
Zion  with  a  cloud  in  his  anger,  and  cast  down  from 
heaven  unto  the  earth  the  beauty  of  Israel,  and  re- 
membered not  his  footstool  in  the  day  of  his  anger ! 
The  Lord  hath  swallowed  up  all  the  habitations  of 
Jacob,  and  hath  not  pitied  ;  he  hath  thrown  down  in 
his  wrath  the  strong-holds  of  the  daughter  of  Judah : 
he  hath  brought  them  down  to  the  ground :  he  hath 
polluted  the  kingdom  and  the  princes  thereof."  ' 

She  repeated  these  words  of  the  prophet  in  a  voice 
so  musically  sad,  that  it  attracted  the  notice  of  some 
of  the  attendants,  and  one  of  them,  a  very  fine  young 
Syrian,  drew  near  to  listen  to  her  tones.  Charley, 
who  had  been  shouting  with  delight  at  the  equestrian 
exploits  of  his  friends,  was  also  arrested  by  them ; 
and  the  change  that  came  over  his  countenance  was 


207 

vei^y  marked.  He  glanced  at  the  listening  foreigner 
and  said,  ^  Papa,  tell  that  nasty  Turk  to  keep  away 
from  lis.' 

'  Fie,  Charles :  what  has  the  poor  fellow  done  to 
oiTend  you  ;  or  to  provoke  such  an  unbecoming  ex- 
pression?' 

'  Why  he  is  a  Turk,  and  has  got  Jerusalem  aw^ay 
from  the  Jews  :  and  he  hates  the  Jews,  and  so  I  don't 
want  him  to  come  poking  here,  listening  to  what  we 
say,  papa.' 

'  It  would  be  a  pity  he  should  hear  what  you  say, 
certainly!'  replied  Captain  Ryan,  half  smiling  ;  '  but 
in  the  first  place  he  cannot  understand  our  language  ; 
in  the  next  place  he  is  no  Turk  ;  and  lastly,  of  what- 
soever nation  he  might  be,  he  is  a  man,  and  my  little 
boy  must  not  forget  the  Apostle's  injunction,  to  "  ho- 
nour all  men."  ' 

'  Oh,  papa,  I  am  very  sorry,  I  quite  forgot  that : 
but  are  you  sure  he  is  not  a  Turk,  Papa  V 

'  Yes,  he  is  a  Christiain,  in  name  at  least :  but  bye 
and  bye  we  shall  see  more  Turks  than  we  have  yet 
done,  and  I  hope  you  will  indulge  no  ill-will  against 
them,  poor  fellows !' 

Charley  shook  his  head  ;  his  prejudices  were  strong, 
and  to  avoid  giving  any  promise  he  turned  to  his 
mother;  ^  Mamma,  don't  you  hate  the  Turks?' 

^  Hate  them,  my  dear  ?  no  :  on  the  contrary  I  feel 
greatly  interested  for  them.' 

Charley  seemed  quite  at  fault :  however,  to  his 
great  relief,  the  two  Jews  now  trotted  up,  and  he 
bawled  out  at  the  top  of  his  little  voice,  '  Mr.  Dock- 
ster  1     Mr.  AUck  !  don't  you  hate  the  Turks?' 


208 

^  Not  at  all,'  replied  Da  Costa,  laughing:  and  Alick 
added, '  Such  respectable-looking  personages,  Charley, 
with  turbans  and  beards,  and  famous  long  pipes,  who 
can  help  admiring  them  V 

To  the  surprise  of  the  party,  the  little  fellow  burst 
into  a  fit  of  angry  crying,  and  said,  '  Nobody  loves 
the  poor  dear  Jews  but  me  !' 

Mrs.  Ryan  began  to  expostulate  ;  Alick  to  soothe  ; 
but  Da  Costa,  after  fixing  a  look  of  deep  anxiety  on 
his  face,  drew  close  to  Captain  Ryan,  and  whispered, 
'  He  is  ill.' 

The  father's  arm  trembled  as  he  pressed  the  sob- 
bing babe  to  his  bosom,  and  said  in  the  softest  tone : 
*  Yes,  the  Lord  loves  the  poor  dear  Jews  far  better 
than  my  Charley  can  do.' 

Smiling  through  his  tears,  the  little  fellow  looked 
up,  stroked  his  father's  face,  and  replied,  '  I  know  it.' 
The  touch  of  that  hot,  dry  hand  was  but  too  confir- 
matory of  Da  Costa's  whisper.  Captain  Ryan  held 
it  to  his  lips,  and  in  a  cheerful,  but  still  very  soothing 
voice,  said,  "  Surely  there  is  no  enchantment  against 
Jacob,  neither  is  there  any  divination  against  Israel ; 
according  to  this  time  it  shall  be  said  of  Jacob  and  of 
Israel,  What  hath  God  wrought!" 

'  Good,  good!'  cried  Charley  ;  '  tell  me  some  more 
Bible,  Papa,  now  we  are  in  Bible-land.' 

Meanwhile  Da  Costa  had  said  something  to  Alick 
that  blanched  his  cheek  ;  but  he  made  an  effprt  to 
look  unconcerned.  Mrs.  Ryan,  ignorant  of  its  imme- 
diate cause,  seemed  pleased  at  the  seriousness  of 
those  whose  thoughts  she  had  expected  to  find  more 
in  unison  with  her  own. 


JltDAH's    LION.  209 

^  I  am  glad  you  express  no  unkind  or  resentful  feel- 
ing against  the  poor  Turks,'  she  said  to  Da  Costa. 
*  They  certainly  had  no  hand  in  bringing  calamity  on 
your  people,  and  their  prejudices  are  not  stronger 
against  you  than  those  of  some  who  call  themselves 
Christians,  and  from  whom,  not  from  you,  they  wrest- 
ed the  land.' 

'  True,'  replied  he :  '  their  quarrel  was  with  the 
Crusaders,  with  whom,  I  believe,  you  have  little  fel- 
lowship of  feeling ;  and  one  of  the  first  exploits  of  a 
crusading  corps,  preparatory  to  marching  against  the 
warlike  Saracens,  was  to  murder,  with  every  aggra- 
vation of  cruelty,  some  community  of  unarmed,  help- 
less, unresisting  Israelites  in  their  own  neighbour- 
hood.' He  spoke  with  cool  contempt,  but  his  cheek 
burned  with  a  fire  that  he  strove  to  smother. 

^  Who  did  that?'   asked  Alick  hastily. 

^  Rome,'  replied  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  You  know  the  origin 
of  the  Crusades:  the  Turks  had  conquered  the  holy 
land,  this  holy  land  (and  she  looked  round  with  glisten- 
ing eyes)  from  the  Romans,  and  established  them- 
selves in  it,  to  the  expulsion  of  all  that  bore  the  name, 
however  falsely,  of  Christianity.  To  recover  this  rich 
possession,  the  Roman  Pontiff  brought  into  the  mar- 
ket his  treasury  of  spiritual  merchandizes,  and  gathered 
armies  out  of  every  nation  subjected  to  his  yoke,  mak- 
ing it  a  work  of  merit  sufficient  for  the  purchase  of  an 
eternal  inheritance  in  heaven,  to  drive  the  Turk  from 
Palestine,  and  to  re-establish  the  superstitious  prac- 
tices that,  alas !  I  fear  we  shall  soon  see  in  full  dis- 
play at  what  they  call  the  holy  sepulchre.' 

The   fiery  animation,    and    exulting  delight  that 

18* 


m 

flashed  from  Da  Costa's  eyes,  reminded  her  that  a 
wrong  construction  might  be  put  on  her  words ;  she 
therefore  corrected  herself:  '  I  say,  what  they  call 
the  holy  sepulchre,  because  there  is  very  strong 
ground  to  question  whether  the  spot  over  which  they 
have  reared  a  church  is  indeed  that  where  the  body 
of  our  blessed  Lord  was  laid  during  the  period  that 
intervened  between  his  death  and  glorious  resurrec- 
tion. I,  for  one,  hope  it  is  not ;  for  grevious  indeed 
must  it  be  to  the  eye  of  one  who  loves  the  Lord  Jesus, 
to  behold  the  idolatrous  abominations  that  are  per- 
petrated in  His  name,  under  a  supposition  that  there 
he  was  laid,  and  there  burst  the  tomb.  To  return : 
these  crusading  expeditions  were  led  by  kings,  and 
comprised  the  flower  of  every  European  land.  They 
were  blessed  to  the  work,  plentifully  supplied  with 
counter-charms  to  meet  the  supposed  sorcery  of  the 
Moslem ;  and  as  a  trial  of  martial  prowess,  an  intro- 
duction to  the  work  of  blood,  and  a  peculiarly  accept- 
able sacrifice  to  the  God  of  peace  and  mercy,  tho 
God  of  Israel,  they  were  encouraged  to  seek  out  and 
to  massacre  the  Hebrew  families  who  dwelt  in  their 
respective  countries.  This  they  did,  with  every  cir- 
cumstance of  cruelty  that  satanic  malignity  could  sug- 
gest, and  persecuting  execute,  against  the  ancient 
people  of  God.  The  Crusaders  succeeded  ;  and  pa- 
pal Rome  regained  what  pagan  Rome  had  first  ac- 
quired— even  the  Holy  City  of  Jerusalem  !' 

'  We  are  now,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  crossing  from, 
the  portion  of  Dan  into  that  of  Ephraim.' 

'  Yes,'  added  Da  Costa,  ^  and  we  shall  recross  into 
that  of  Dan,  for  a  very  little  space ;  then  into  the  lot 


JUDAHS    LION.  211 

of  Benjamin,  thence  to  that  of  Judah,  vain  words  ! 
Dan,  Ephraim,  Benjamin,  Judah — where  are  they?' 

'  Preparing  to  retm-n  and  repossess  the  land  which 
God  gave  to  them  and  to  their  seed  for  ever — for  an 
everlasting  possession,'  exclaimed  Captain  Ryan. 

Charley,  whose  looks  bore  witness  to  the  fervency 
of  his  eagerness  while  listening  to  his  mother,  now 
said,  '  Mamma,  how  came  the  Turks  back  again  ? 
Did  they  drive  the  Papists  out  V 

'  Yes,  my  dear :  Jerusalem,  Antioch,  and  Edessa, 
were  the  only  places  the  Crusaders  could  master. 
Syria,  and  Palestine,  where  we  now  are,  remained  in 
the  hands  of  the  Fatimites,  a  clan  of  Mahommedans  ; 
but  Jerusalem  was  retaken  by  the  Sultan  of  Egypt  in 
1187,  and  after  more  than  a  hundred  years'  fighting 
and  struggling  to  get  it  back  again,  the  armies  of  the 
Pope  were  finally  driven  away  by  the  Turks,  who 
have  kept  it  ever  since.' 

'  And  now  Charley,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  these 
poor  Turks  have  no  Bible  ;  they  know  not  God's  pro- 
mises to  his  dear  people  Israel,  but  consider  that  in 
holding  possession  of  this  fair  land  they  do  no  more 
than  keep  what  their  fathers  bravely  won  from  men 
who  pretend  to  be  believers  in  the  Holy  Bible,  and 
yet  would  as  soon  persecute  a  Jew  to  death  for  being 
a  Jew,  as  they  would  a  Turk  for  being  a  Turk.  Do 
you  wonder,  my  boy,  that  our  feelings  towards  the 
poor  Turks  are  different  from  those  of  the  Romanists, 
who  think  it  a  mark  of  piety  to  hate  them  V 

'  I'll  tell  you  what,  papa,'  cried  Charley,  almost 
rising  out  of  his  snug  seat  with  the  animation  that 
firec^  \iim.     '  It  was  Popery  itself  taught  me  to  hate 


212 

the  Turks.  When  I  was  Uttle,  you  know  I  did  be 
very  fond  of  Judy  O'Keefe,  down  the  bogside,  down 
there  by' — his  father  interrupted  him,  '  I  remember 
it  well,  Charley,  though  to  be  sure  it  must  be  a  great 
while  since  you  were  little  :  she  used  to  give  you  fresh 
eggs,  and  let  you  play  with  her  young  chickens.  Weil, 
what  about  Judy  and  the  Turks  V 

'  Oh,  Papa,  sure  I  went  and  talked  to  Judy  all 
about  the  Jews  and  the  Holy  City  Jerusalem ;  and 
she  said  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem  would  save  any 
soul ;  and  she  said  the  bad  wicked  Turks  had  driven 
God's  people  out  of  it,  so  as  they  couldn't  get  in  to 
make  pilgrimages  ;  and,  papa,  I  thought  God's  peo- 
ple meant  the  Jews,  and  so  I  came  to  hate  the  Turks, 
so  I  did.' 

'  No,  no,  my  boy,  the  Turks  never  drove  the  Jews 
out,  though  I  don't  suppose  they  would  be  willing  to 
let  them  in  again  :  but  if  those  whom  poor  Judy  calls 
God's  people  had  possession  of  it,  they  would  proba- 
bly put  to  death  any  son  of  Abraham  who  should 
dare  to  set  foot  in  the  city  of  his  fathers — the  city  of 
his  God.' 

*  This  is  the  way  we  are  all  misled,'  observed  Mrs. 
Ryan.  '  Our  youthful  sympathies  are  enlisted  on 
the  side  of  the  crusaders,  and  we  receive  from  the 
elegant  pages  of  Tasso,  and  from  the  glowing  recitals 
of  history  as  penned  by,  or  copied  from,  the  disciples 
of  Rome,  such  impressions  as  steel  our  hearts  against 
a  people  who  might  be  found  more  accessible  to 
the  truths  of  the  gospel  than  many,  at  a  far  greater 
distance,  to  whom  we  are  constantly  despatching 
Missionaries.' 


judah's  lion.  213 

'  Ay/  rejoined  her  husband,  ^  and  there  are  two 
points  in  the  Turkish  character  that  shouhl  yield  us 
special  encouragement ;  first  they  show  far  more  re- 
spect to  the  Jew  than  to  the  idolater  who  falsely  bears 
the  name  of  Christian ;  and  secondly,  they  not  only 
honour  the  name  and  the  law  of  Moses,  but  they  do 
actually  at  this  time  look  for  the  coming  of  our  Mes- 
siah, after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  and  believe  that 
he  shall  triumphantly  reign  in  this  very  land,  Jerusa- 
lem being  the  chief  seat  of  his  government.  This  I 
have  repeatedly  heard  from  their  own  lips.' 

^  And  is  it  possible,'  asked  Mrs.  Ryan  ;  '  that  these 
facts  should  be  knowm,  and  yet  no  attempt  made  to 
improve  such  manifest  advantages  to  the  welfare  of 
their  immortal  souls  V 

'  Popery,  my  dear.  Popery  has  a  terrible  account  to 
give  in  this  matter  ;  but  we  too  are  very  guilty.' 

During  this  conversation,  Da  Costa  had  ridden  on 
in  perfect  silence,  after  his  involuntary  interruption ; 
and  there  was  that  in  his  countenance  which  be- 
tokened a  train  of  thought  most  absorbingly  interest- 
ing. He  seemed  to  be  revolving  in  his  mind  some- 
thing that  wholly  possessed  it,  evidently  arising  out  of 
what  he  heard.  Alick,  who  had  passed  over  as  a 
merely  mechanical  process,  such  outlines  of  history  as 
his  school-education  had  required  him  to  learn  by  rote, 
listened  with  intense  eagerness  to  every  word  spoken  ; 
and  often  did  the  proud  glance  turned  towards  tho 
majestic  mountain-summits  of  Judea,  bespeak  his 
heartfelt  conviction  that  let  Turk  or  Christian  enjoy 
the  transient  occupation  of  that  land,  the  true,  the  un- 
alienable right  to  its  possession  was  his. 


214 

Charley,  on  whose  dimpled  cheeks  the  crimson  tint 
that  usually  came  and  went  with  every  speech  he  ut- 
tered, had  now  established  itself  in  two  broad,  well- 
defined  and  deepening  spots  of  hectic  character,  was 
very  talkative,  and  made  several  striking  remarks : 
until  Da  Costa,  suddenly  roused  from  his  reverie, 
encountered  the  anxious  eye  of  Captain  Ryan,  and 
in  the  same  adroit  whisper  as  before,  said,  *  Keep  him 
quiet.' 

This  was  not  easily  done  :  Charley  had  taken  a 
sudden  interest  in  the  Turks,  as  men  whom  he  had 
wrongfully  despised  and  dishked  ;  and  in  language 
rather  incoherent,  he  was  urging  on  Alick  the  duty  of 
preaching  Christ  to  them :  a  subject  that  seemed 
sadly  to  embarrass  his  friend.  They  had  pursued 
their  progress  under  a  glowing  sun,  perpetually  de- 
lighted by  some  new  burst  of  scenery  peculiar  to  the 
land,  when  a  sudden  darkness  overcast  the  sky  ;  and 
long  before  they  could  reach  even  a  place  of  tempo- 
rary shelter,  the  most  penetrating  rain  descended, 
setting  at  nought  their  best  attempts  at  repelling  its 
soaking  power.  Captain  Ryan  bent  over  his  precious 
boy,  who  was  also  covered  with  the  folds  of  his  light, 
waterproof  cloak ;  but  the  consideration  that  it  was 
also  air-proof,  and  therefore  calculated  to  condense 
and  detain,  and  most  perniciously  to  return  in  cold 
damps  the  exlialations  of  a  body  so  closely  wrapped 
and  inevitably  overheated,  distracted  his  mind.  At 
times  he  thought  of  throwing  all  open,  and  exposing 
the  child  to  the  more  genial  rain  of  heaven ;  but 
sleep  had  overcome  the  little  fellow,  and  he  dared  not 
venture  on  such  an  experiment.      Da  Costa's  looks  of 


215 

anxious  distress  increased  his  uneasy  feelings  ;  and 
secret  prayer  alone  upheld  his  spirit  in  an  hour  of  no 
common  trial. 

Alick,  meanwhile,  was  devoting  himself  to  the  task 
of  warding  off  from  Mrs.  Ryan  the  heavy  torrents 
that  fell.  She  was,  like  most  of  her  countrywomen,  a 
most  excellent  equestrian,  and  her  easy  self-possession 
was  of  great  value.  But  the  road  here  became  rug- 
ged, the  rain  increased,  the  horses  gave  evident  token 
of  unwillingness  to  proceed,  and  their  attendant 
owners  closed  in,  protesting  against  any  perseverance 
in  the  attempt  to  reach  their  destination,  Ramleh, 
that  night.  Captain  Ryan  was  disposed  to  acquiesce, 
under  extreme  solicitude  for  Charley,  but  Da  Costa 
knowing  what  unspeakably  wretched  quarters  they 
must  put  up  with  at  the  proposed  halt,  strenuously 
resisted  it.  High  words  ensued,  between  him  and  the 
natives  guides,  the  purport  of  which  being  known 
only  to  Captain  Ryan,  did  not  alarm  him  so  much  as 
the  vehement  oriental  gesticulation  of  the  parties 
startled  his  companions.  At  length  the  Syrian  who 
had  offended  Charley,  interposed,  strongly  urging  a 
halt,  and  giving  Captain  Ryan  in  an  under-tone  such 
cogent  reasons  for  it,  founded  on  the  very  questionable 
character  of  his  comrades,  and  accompanied  with  a 
promise  of  very  early  resuming  the  journey,  that  he 
deemed  it  better  to  acquiesce. 

They  dismounted,  therefore,  at  the  spot  selected  by 
their  guides,  and  a  dreary  place  it  was !  four  low 
rugged  walls,  surmounted  by  a  flat  roof  that  admitted 
the  rain  through  a  hundred  fissures,  without  window 
or  chimney,  and  for  a  door  a  shapeless  slab  of  stone, 


216  judah's  lion, 

formed  the  miserable  dwelling  into  which  the  whole 
party,  including  the  horses  and  their  guides,  pressed 
together;  taking  up  their  lodging  to  the  best  advan- 
tage they  could  on  the  shppery-floor.  It  was  then 
that  the  graces  of  hospitality  shone  forth  in  those  lords 
of  the  soil  who,  like  their  father  Abraham,  possessed 
not  so  much  of  it  as  would  yield  support  to  the  sole  of 
their  foot.  The  two  Hebrew  gentlemen  at  once,  and 
in  a  way  that  defied  all  opposition,  laid  hands  on 
whatever  could  conduce  to  the  comfort  of  the  lady 
and  her  child:  the  young  Syrian  horseman  heartily 
seconded  them  ;  and  though  not  without  some  grum- 
bling, and  looks  by  no  means  friendly,  the  others 
yielded  their  slight  saddles  and  bags,  and  whatever 
was  not  saturated  with  the  rain,  to  form  a  sort  of 
couch,  over  which  they  spread  a  large  rug,  which  Da 
Costa,  better  prepared  for  such  a  sudden  change  of 
weather  and  circumstances,  had  rolled  up  within  an 
oil- skin  covering.  This  being  arranged,  the  next  care 
was  to  provide  somewhat  of  a  table,  on  which  they 
placed  refreshments,  such  as  could  be  produced  on  an 
emergency  so  unlooked-for.  Da  Costa,  while  press- 
ing on  Mrs.  Ryan  a  portion  of  the  little  store,  said,  ^  I 
have  no  flocks,  whence  to  select  a  kid,  nor  meal 
wherewith  to  form  a  cake  ;  but  trust  me,  dear  Ma- 
dam, when  it  shall  please  the  Lord  our  God  to  restore 
to  us  the  inheritance  of  our  fathers,  and  to  the  land 
her  rich  fertility,  the  choicest  of  all  we  possess  will  be 
in  our  estimation  a  poor  offering  to  the  friends  who 
have  sheltered  us  in  the  hour  of  persecution,  sympa- 
thized in  our  sorrows,  and  are  now  belonging  to  re- 


judah's  lion.  217 

joice  in  the  joy  that  will  yet  gladden  the  way-worn 
sons  of  Jacob.' 

Before  Mrs.  Ryan  could  reply,  an  exclamation  from 
Alick,  who  had  just  taken  Charley  on  his  lap,  arrested 
her.  The  boy  had  been  in  a  deep  sleep  for  some 
time  before  their  halt,  nor  had  any  of  the  movements 
that  ensued  broken  his  slumber.  Now,  however,  he 
had  opened  his  eyes,  and  their  wild,  bloodshot  appear- 
ance, as  he  rolled  them  on  surrounding  objects,  and 
finally  fixed  their  vacant  stare  on  Alick's  face,  with- 
out any  semblance  of  recognition,  had  surprised  the 
youth  into  an  interjection  of  alarm.  Captain  Ryan 
had  gone  to  the  farthest  end  of  the  long  narrow 
apartment,  to  make  some  enquiry  of  his  Syrian  friend, 
with  whom  he  was  much  pleased  ;  but  his  wife's 
distressed  accents  caught  his  ear,  which  Alick's  voice 
had  failed  to  attract,  and  he  hastened  back,  to  find 
her  bending  over  the  child,  exclaiming  in  mingled 
terror  and  amazement,  '  Oh  what  is  this  !  What  can 
have  happened  to  my  boy !' 

'Fatigue,  damp,  excitement,'  said  Captain  Ryan, 
as  he  took  the  little  burning  hand  in  his,  '  have  over- 
powered the  poor  babe.  '  Charley,  vein  of  my  heart ! 
speak  to  papa,  tell  him  what  ails  you.' 

But  Charley  spoke  not ;  fever  was  on  him  to  an 
extent  that  overpowered  all  consciousness,  and  when 
they  laid  a  finger  on  his  tiny  wrist,  the  throb  of  the 
vein  was  fearful. 

The  father's  heart,  and  the  mother's  heart — who 
shall  declare  their  secret  writhings  under  the  dread 
that  wrung  them !  but  they  were  outwardly  calm ; 
for  the  peace  of  those  whose  minds  are  stayed  on  the 

19 


218  judah's  lion. 

Lord  was  there.  Alick,  on  the  contrary,  was  agitated 
beyond  control :  he  clasped  the  poor  child  to  his 
bosom,  and  wept  over  him,  exclaiming,  '  O  Charley, 
Charley  !   is  this  your  welcome  to  the  land  of  Israel  ? 

'  Be  quiet,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa ;  and  then  in  a 
voice  of  the  most  marked  solemnity,  and  with  an 
emphasis  so  evident,  that  it  sent  dismay  into  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers,  he  added,  ^  This  is  not  death. 

The  parents  looked  up  at  him :  he  stood  with 
folded  arms,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  child,  his  brow 
bent,  his  lips  compressed,  and  feelings,  the  intensity 
of  which  was  the  more  apparent  from  his  usually 
dehghted  aspect  when  gazing  on  that  boy,  worked  in 
his  countenance.  Christian  zeal  ever  glows  brighter 
when  the  Refiner  heightens  the  furnace  in  which  he 
purifies  his  silver ;  Captain  Ryan  stood  erect,  and 
looking  earnestly  at  his  Jewish  friend  said,  '  And  if  it 
be  death,  what  is  it  but  the  gate  of  life  to  the  babe — 
the  little  one  who  believes  in  Christ  as  his  only,  his 
all-sufficient  Saviour  ?' 

No  notice  was  taken  of  this :  Da  Costa  laid  his 
hand  on  the  broad  little  forehead,  and  said,  '  I  know 
these  symptoms  well:  he  is  dehrious,  and  it  may 
become  more  palpable  ;  but  be  calm,  and  avoid  ex- 
citing him  in  any  way.  In  our  present  circumstances, 
sleep  is  the  only  medicine  within  our  reach.  To- 
morrow we  shall,  by  a  comparatively  short  and  easy 
journey,  reach  Ramleh — our  ancient  Ramah.' 

It  was  now  that,  for  the  first  time,  Mrs.  Ryan's 
fortitude  gave  way ;  she  had  taken  away  the  boy  in 
her  arms,  and  her  tears  burst  over  his  insensible  form 
as  she  sobbed  out,  ^  Oh,  not  to  Ramah  !'  „ 


219 

*  Why  not  to  Ramah  V  asked  Da  Costa :  there  is 
no  nearer  place  on  our  route  for  what  you  require.' 

Mrs.  Ryan  shook  her  head;  her  tears  fell  faster 
than  ever  over  the  little  sufferer ;  and  Alick,  drawing 
his  friend  aside,  repeated  to  him  in  accents  that 
trembled  with  emotion,  the  words  of  the  Prophet 
Jeremiah,  "  A  voice  was  heard  in  Ramah,  lamenta- 
tion and  bitter  weeping ;  Rachel  weeping  for  her 
children,  refused  to  be  comforted  for  her  children, 
because  they  were  not." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  first  day's  journey,  leisurely  as  it  had  been, 
and  abruptly  terminated,  brought  our  travellers  over 
a  much  less  space  of  ground  than  they  had  supposed  ; 
and  its  general  character  of  tranquil  beauty,  fragrance, 
and  unobstructed  smoothness,  would  have  ill  pre- 
pared them  for  what  was  to  follow  ;  but  Da  Costa 
forewarned  them  of  the  change  that  would  take  place 
soon  after  leaving  Ramah,  and  urged  their  continuance 
at  that  station  until  the  issue  of  the  little  boy's  illness 
should  be  known.  Captain  Ryan  was  disposed  to 
acquiesce  ;  but  his  wife,  though  she  offered  no  oppo- 
sition to  their  plans,  evidently  shrank  from  the  ar- 
rangement ;  and,  while  he  almost  marvelled  at  the 
unwonted  weakness  of  a  mind,  the  strength  of  which 
had  often  proved  a  support  to  his  own,  he  could  not 
press  the  point.  He  ended  the  conference  by  saying, 
'Let  all  these  thoughts  for  the  morrow  be  abandoned : 
to  Ramleh  we  must  necessarily  proceed:  but  our 
farther  course  may  be  left  to  the  direction  of  a  higher 
wisdom  than  ours.  If  I  could  see  you  composed  to 
sleep,  Ellen,  it  would  lighten  my  present  anxiety  not 
a  little  :  be  persuaded  to  lie  down,  and  leave  the  boy 
to  us.' 

*  Do,  dear  Mrs.  Ryan,'  said  Alick  ;  '  I  will  promise, 
ay  swear,  not  to  take  my  eyes  off  his  darling  face  till 


judah's  lion.  221 

you  wake,  if  you  will  only  get  a  little  rest  after  all  this 
trying  work.' 

'  And  I,'  said  Da  Costa,  ^  will  hold  his  hand  in 
mine  ;  and  if  even  an  unsatisfactory  movement  of 
the  pulse  takes  place,  you  shall  be  roused.  Trust 
him  to  us:  or  rather,'  he  added  in  a  voice  unusually 
sweet  and  solemn,  '  leave  him  to  the  Watchman  of 
Israel,  who  never  slumbers;  the  Shepherd  who  car- 
ries the  lambs  in  his  bosom.' 

She  lifted  her  eyes  to  their  faces,  and  exclaimed, 
'  O  kind,  generous  sons  of  Abraham,  would  that  ^ou 
were  under  the  guardianship  of  that  Watchman — 
gathered  into  the  fold  of  that  Shepherd  !' 

*  So  we  are,'  replied  Alick. 

*  Not  in  the  sense  she  means,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 
^  Christians  apply  the  title  differenlly  from  us :  but 
apply  them  how  you  will,  dear  Madam,  so  that  they 
relieve  your  mind  from  its  present  over-weight.'  He 
then  added,  ^  Believe  me,  you  will  need  to  have  all 
your  powers,  bodily  and  mental,  unimpaired  to  meet 
the  difficulties  that  lie  in  our  onward  path.' 

'  I  know  it ;  but  I  am  not  fatigued,  nor  drowsy,  nor 
in  any  need  of  rest.  I  only  want  a  cordial  to  refresh 
my  spirit' 

'  Well,  give  me  your  bible,  Ryan,'  said  the  Jew, 
with  unruffled  countenance  ;  and  opening  at  the  book 
of  Jeremiah,  he  proceeded:  ^  You  seem  to  have  some 
painful  thoughts  connected  with  this  town  of  Ramleh, 
and  I  must  claim  the  exercise  of  your  sympathy  in  our 
destinies  to  remove  those  thoughts.  Few  passages 
are  more  pregnant  with  delightful  hope  than  this :' 
he  then  read,  beginning  with  the  verse  that  Alick 

19* 


222  judah's  lion. 

had  quoted,  and  proceeding  without  a  pause,  "  Thus 
saith  the  Lord,  Refrain  thy  voice  from  weeping,  and 
thine  eyes  from  tears ;  for  thy  work  shall  be  rewarded, 
saith  the  Lord  ;  and  they  shall  come  again  from  the 
land  of  the  enemy.  And  there  is  hope  in  thine  end, 
saith  the  Lord,  that  thy  children  shall  come  again  to 
their  own  border."  '  So,  you  see,  the  weeping  of 
Rachel,  however  bitter,  is  not  a  hopeless  weeping : 
the  tribes,  her  scattered  children,  for  whom  she  la- 
ments as  though  they  were  not,  shall  be  gathered 
again :  for  listen,  a  little  farther  on  the  prophet  says, 
"  Thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  the  God  of  Israel. 
As  yet  they  shall  use  this  speech  in  the  land  of  Judah, 
and  in  the  cities  thereof,  when  I  shall  bring  again  the 
captivity.  The  Lord  bless  thee,  O  habitation  of  jus- 
tice and  mountain  of  holiness.  And  there  shall  dwell 
in  Judah  itself,  and  in  all  the  cities  thereof  together, 
husbandmen,  and  they  that  go  forth  with  flocks :  for 
I  have  satiated  the  weary  soul,  and  I  have  replenished 
every  sorrowful  soul.  Upon  this  I  awaked  and  be- 
held, and  my  sleep  was  sweet  unto  me."  What  pos- 
sible interpretation  can  you  put  upon  this,  to  deprive 
it  of  its  literal,  obvious  meaning  V 

'  None,'  answered  Captain  Ryan :  '  to  Israel  the 
promise  undoubtedly  belongs,  and  it  breathes  the  rich 
strain  of  assurance  to  them  as  a  nation,  to  deny  or 
explain  away  which  I  should  deem  a  sacrilegious 
offence  ;  to  you  belongs  the  word  of  encouragement 
tell  you  that  the  Lord  hath  not  finally  cast  off  his 
people,  nor  forgotten  that  his  covenant  was  made 
with  Abraham,  Isaac,  Jacob,  and  their  seed  for  ever, 
and  that  it  includes  also  the  possession  of  this  land, 


223 

which  He  gave  unto  them  But  my  dear  friend,  we 
poor  Gentiles,  beUeving  that  the  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all 
that  call  upon  him,  without  respect  of  persons,  where 
spiritual  blessings  are  concerned ;  believing  the 
word  of  your  prophets  also,  who  repeatedly  testify 
of  the  participation  promised  to  us  in  those  ever- 
lasting mercies  which  pertain  to  a  heavenly  inheri- 
tance— we,  too,  find  a  word  of  comfort  addressed 
to  our  souls  in  the  passage  you  have  been  reading. 
The  first  part,  the  lamentation  of  Rachel  for  her 
children ' — 

^  I  know  how  you  apply  that,'  interrupted  Da  Costa. 
'  The  slaughter  of  infants  in  Bethlehem,  by  that  san- 
guinary, usurping  despot  Herod  is  related  with  a  quo- 
tation from  it.  Letting  that  pass,  to  what  possible 
use  can  you  turn  the  rest' 

*  To  me,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  it  speaks  of  the  resur- 
rection of  the  body,  it  comforts  the  weeping  mother 
with  the  assured  hope  of  a  re-union  with  her  lost 
children  in  the  day  of  that  first,  glorious  resurrection, 
when  all  who  are  the  Lord's,  shall  rise  to  meet  him 
at  his  coming.' 

Da  Costa  had  an  answer  ready :  but  he  glanced  at 
the  child,  at  the  pale,  anxious  face  of  the  fond  mother, 
and  feeling  that  he  could  not  then  combat  her  infer- 
ences, he  closed  the  book,  saying  'Well,  my  dear 
Madam,  I  rejoice  that  the  cordial  for  which  you 
wished  has  been  supplied  :  in  truth,  it  is  large  enough 
to  admit  of  our  sharing  it.'  He  spoke  smilingly,  and 
from  courtesy  rather  than  conviction ;  but  AHck  had 
been  struck,  as  though  he  had  never  before  heard  of 
such  a  thing,  with  the  beautiful  arrangement  of  God's 


224 

word,  by  which  both  Jew  and  Gentile  might  appro- 
priate spiritually  that  which,  in  its  primary  literal 
sense  belongs  to  the  former  ;  and  thence  he  was  led 
to  ponder  the  question  whether  such  spiritual  inter- 
pretation was  not  equally  needful  to  both.  '  This 
goodly  land,'  thought  he,  *  may  be  but  the  type  of  a 
better;  and  God's  faithfulness  in  reserving  it  to  us 
may  be  the  appointed  pledge  of  his  bringing  us  into 
his  own  kingdom  at  last.  They  say  Moses  was  a 
type  of  Christ,  and  our  sacrifices  were  types  of  his 
offering  himself  up  for  us.  If  so,  how  extensive  the 
blessing!  I  don't  see  but  that  a  Jewish  mother 
would  take  comfort  in  such  a  passage,  so  explained  ; 
and  it  does  not  interfere  with  our  national  rights — 
but  rather  establishes  them.  I  should  like  to  under- 
stand all  this  !'  He  remained  in  deep  thought,  and 
the  light  that  gradually  broke  on  his  soul  was  most 
cheering. 

Meanwhile  Captain  Ryan  called  his  friend  aside 
and  demanded  of  him  his  honest  opinion  respecting 
Charley.  Da  Costa,  with  some  reluctance  answered 
that,  shortly  before  their  arrival,  he  had  witnessed 
some  cases  of  a  most  severe  fever  among  children, 
too  often  fatal,  and  which  appeared  to  be  also  conta- 
gious ;  that  he  had  seen  Charley  in  the  Bazaar,  stand- 
ing close  beside  a  little  Armenian  boy,  two  of  whose 
family  had  died  of  it,  and  who  himself  had  but  re- 
cently risen  from  the  same  bed  of  sickness :  that  he 
had  snatched  Charley  away,  and  having  every  hope 
of  his  escaping  any  danger,  he  had  refrained  from 
alarming  them  by  mentioning  it,  but  had  watched 
him  most  anxiously  for  a  day  or  two.     ^  My  mind  was 


225 

then  quite  at  ease,'  he  concluded,  '  until  this  day, 
when  the  symptoms  that  appeared  struck  me  at  once 
as  being  identical  with  those  I  have  witnessed  in 
Jaffa.' 

i>  '  And  how  long  does  this  disease  usually  last,  pre- 
paratory to  a  fatal  termination  V 

'  I  cannot  speak  with  any  certainty  to  that  point ;  I 
have  seen  it  go  on  for  a  week ;  I  have  seen  it  end 
sooner.  But  why  talk  of  a  fatal  issue  ?  I  cannot 
bear  to  anticipate  that,  how  then  can  you  V 

'  By  firmly  believing,  my  dear  Da  Costa,  that  the 
good  Shepherd,  even  Jesus,  the  Messiah  of  Israel, 
will  carry  this  poor  Gentile  lamb  in  his  tender  bosom 
to  the  green  pastures  of  his  heavenly  fold.' 

Da  Costa  turned  away,  but  not  in  unkindness. 
Ryan  called  him  hack  ;  'Tell  me,  will  his  reason  re- 
turn V 

^  Oh  yes  ;  a  little  delirium  at  the  outset,  with  occa- 
sional wanderings  under  the  paroxysms  of  fever,  is  all 
that  I  have  seen  in  these  cases.  His  irritation  con- 
cerning the  Turks,  and  his  hurried  loquacity  after- 
wards, gave  me  the  alarm  ;  but  remember  I  may  be 
mistaken.  I  know  just  enough  of  medicine  to  make 
me  nervous  about  those  I  love  ;  hardly  enough  to  do 
them  any  good.' 

'  At  Ramleh,  what  quarters  shall  we  find  V 

^  None  so  suitable  as  the  convent.' 

'  None  that  I  would  not  sooner  occupy  !'  exclaimed 
Ryan. 

The  lapse  of  a  few  troubled  hours  saw  the  caval- 
cade again  ready  :  the  weather  had  become  more  fa- 
vourable, and  again  they  set  out  under  a  brightening 


226 

sky,  Charley  being  placed  under  an  ample  panler, 
balanced  by  some  articles  belonging  to  the  baggage, 
and  slung  across  the  back  of  a  stout  mule,  whose 
even,  easy  pace,  had  been  remarked  on  the  preceding 
day.  The  boy  appeared  perfectly  conscious,  but  un- 
der some  depression  that  deterred  him  from  speaking. 
His  father  led  the  animal,  walking  beside  him,  and 
the  two  Hebrews  alternately  dismounted  to  steady 
the  panier,  while  the  other  rode  beside  Mrs.  Ryan. 

They  had  proceeded  thus  for  a  little  way,  when 
Charley  spoke.  *  What  a  nice  warm  sunshine,  and  a 
sweet  smell !     Where  am  I  now?' 

^  In  the  Holy  Land,  my  boy,'  answered  his  father, 
^  we  are  crossing  the  plains  near  Ramah,  and  very 
rich  is  the  fragrance  of  the  glowing  flowers  that  sur- 
round us,  drawn  forth  by  the  sun's  rays  after  the  rains 
of  yesterday.  It  is  a  goodly  land,  Charles,  and  look- 
ing about  me  now  I  can  call  it  the  glory  of  all 
lands  ;  for  if  such  it  be  in  desolation  and  neglect, 
Avhat  would  it  be  under  the  culture  of  its  own  tribes  !' 

'  Papa,  I  should  like  to  look  about  me  ;  but  some- 
body has  fastened  my  head  down — I  can't  lift  it' 

Da  Costa,  who  kept  out  of  his  sight,  but  intently 
watched  him,  shrank  back  at  hearing  these  words. 
His  gesture  was  noticed  by  Captain  Ryan,  who  felt 
its  import. 

The  child  remained  silent  and  quiet ;  the  fever  was 
abated,  and  a  dreamy  stillness  seemed  to  hang  about 
him,  as  he  lay,  smiling  occasionally  to  himself  in  his 
narrow  baskets.  After  a  while,  Alick  assumed  Da 
Costa's  post,  and,  unable  to  keep  back  as  he  had 
done,  peeped   into   the    panier.     Charley  was   then 


227 

seemingly  asleep,  but  in  a  few  seconds  he  opened  his 
eyes,  though  without  appearing  to  take  notice  of  any 
thing  about  him,  and  almost  laughed.  Alick  bent  his 
head  lower,  and  in  a  soft  whisper  asked,  '  Is  my  little 
darling  comfortable  V 

In  a  moment  the  boy's  look  was  turned  on  him  ;  it 
was  bright  but  unsteady  ;  and  he  answered  in  the 
same  low  tone,  '  Mr.  Alick,  you  don't  know  how 
beautiful,  how  beautiful' — there  he  paused. 

'  Is  it  the  land,  Charley  ?  the  fair  land  that  God 
gave  to  my  father  Abraham  ?  but  no,  you  can't  see  it, 
lying  down.  Or  is  it  the  sunshine  out  of  that  deep 
blue  sky  ?  Oh,  Charley,  'tis  a  glorious  sky  that  God 
has  spread  over  my  own  land.  You  can  see  that, 
dear  ?' 

'  Yes,  but  it  is'nt  that  The  beautiful  things,  Mr. 
Alick,  are  in  my  mind,  somehow,  but  I  don't  know 
where  they  come  from.' 

^  From  God,  Charley:  or  perhaps' — he  bent  his 
face  to  the  child's  and  whispered  as  low  as  if  he  feared 
the  sound  of  his  own  breath  ^  perhaps  from  Jesus 
Christ :  He's  your  God,  you  know  ;  but  not  mine,  not 
exactly,  not' — 

Charley  interrupted  him,  with  the  quick,  abrupt 
sp«,ech  peculiar  to  him  when  roused,  '  If  he's  any 
body's  God,  then  he's  every  body's  God:  he  is  ^our 
God,  Mr.  Alick,  I  tell  you  He  is.' 

^  Hush,  darling,  hush !  Well,  at  any  rate  this  is 
Palestine,  this  is  the  Holy  Land.' 

'  And  Jesus  Christ  is  its  King  ;  and  he  is  the  King 
of  the  Jews,'  said  Charley 


228 

'  You  are  sick  now,  my  little  love,  and  must  not  be 
contradicted.' 

Yes,  I  may  be  contradicted,  but  God  mustn't  be 
contradicted ;  and  He  says,  "  Yet  have  I  set  my 
King  upon  my  holy  hill  of  Zion."  I  tell  you  what,  if 
you  don't  kiss  the  Son,  you'll  be  broke  in  bits  like  a 
potter's  vessel.' 

This  was  spoken  so  loud,  the  voice  caught  his  mo- 
ther's ear,  and  in  a  moment  her  horse  was  close  on 
the  heels  of  the  steady  old  mule,  and  her  neck  eagerly 
stretched  out,  till  Charley  caught  a  glimpse  of  her 
face,  and  cried  out,  '  Mamma,  my  mind  is  full  of 
beautiful  things.' 

Before  she  could  well  answer,  he  had  relapsed  into 
his  slumbering  state  ;  and  Da  Costa  forbade  any  at- 
tempt to  rouse  him.  AHck  walked  on,  silent,  and 
more  deeply  than  ever  pondering  the  one  thing  that 
occupied  his  thoughts.  Captain  Ryan's  quick  ear 
had  caught  all  the  dialogue  except  Alick's  mysterious 
whisper  ;  and  the  purport  of  that  was  easy  to  ascer- 
tain from  what  preceded  and  followed  it.  His  heart 
was  wrung  by  the  anticipation  of  losing  this  precious 
boy,  but  its  language  was,  ''  The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done  !"  and  again  he  thought  over  the  child's  ardent 
desire  to  be  a  Missionary  to  Israel :  and  rejoiced  in 
its  evident  gratification. 

Thus  they  passed  on,  and  before  mid-day  they  had 
entered  Ramah.  The  best  accommodations  to  be 
found  were  pitiable,  compared  with  their  need  ;  but 
so  long  as  little  Charley  could  be  undressed  and 
placed  in  a  snug  bed,  his  friends  were  satisfied.  He 
remained  quiet,  and  Mrs.  Ryan  being  also  persuaded 


judah's  lion.  229 

to  take  some  repose  beside  him,  the  three  gentlemen 
sallied  into  the  town,  in  quest  of  what  there  was  little 
hope  of  obtaining — competent  miedical  advice.  To 
the  Franciscan  Convent  they  went,  being  told  that  a 
Doctor  was  there,  a  Frank ;  but  the  monk  who  an- 
swered their  call  said  he  had  left  the  place  two  days 
before  ;  having  only  been  a  transient  guest.  ^  He 
gave  advice  and  medicine,'  added  he  ;  but  we  saw  it 
was  only  done  to  make  way  for  his  Bibles,  which  he 
scattered  about,  and  gave  us  no  little  trouble  in  col- 
lecting them  to' — ^here  he  stopped,  as  if  afraid  of  going 
too  far. 

'  To  burn,  I  suppose,'  said  Captain  Ryan. 

^  The  books  contained  nothing  that  could  concern 
us  ;  we  live  in  a  mixed  population,  each  following  his 
own  way,  according  as  he  was  brought  up.' 

'  But  if  none  of  those  ways  should  happen  to  be  the 
right  way,  and  a  person  comes  to  point  it  out  to  you 
all,  it  seems  to  me  that  instead  of  concerning  nobody, 
it  does,  in  an  especial  manner,  concern  every  body,' 

The  monk's  brow  contracted ;  '  As  to  the  right  way,' 
said  he,  '  we  know  very  well  there  is  but  one,  and  that 
is  the  way  the  Catholic  Church  appoints.' 

^  I  should  rather  say,'  remarked  Captain  Ryan, 
'  that  the  Church  instead  of  choosing  her  own  way  is 
bound  to  walk  in  that  which  God  has  marked  out.' 

But  the  monk  had  no  talent,  or  no  taste  for  contro- 
versy ;  with  the  same  unmoved  look,  and  in  the  same 
monotonous  tone,  he  repeated  his  former  words,  which 
were  evidently  spoken  by  rote.  AUck  observed,  ^  If 
what  your  church  says  be  true,  it  must  agree  with 

20 


230  JUDAHS   LION. 

what  is  in  the  Bible,  and  therefore  I  don't  see  why 
you  should  object  to  it.' 

The  monk  lifted  his  sleepy  eyes  to  the  youth's  face, 
and  again  dropped  them,  muttering  something  that 
sounded  like  a  repetition  of  his  former  words. 

Da  Costa  had  been  glancing  round  the  room  with 
an  aspect  of  restless  impatience  and  half-suppressed 
irritation ;  he  now  spoke,  and  his  voice  rang  through 
the  little,  low-roofed  apartment  with  electrifying 
power.  ^  We  who  are  Jews,  rejecting  as  we  do  the 
whole  system  of  Christianity,  appeal  to  the  Scriptures 
as  our  warrant  for  such  rejection.  You,  who  have 
added  to  God's  word  whatever  you  deem  necessary  to 
authenticate  your  creed,  dare  not,  it  seems,  bring  your 
rehgion  to  the  touchstone  of  your  own  New  Testa- 
ment.    How  is  this?' 

The  monk  stared  with  a  mixture  of  angry  astonish- 
ment and  alarm,  as  Da  Costa  stood,  proudly  facing 
him,  with  such  a  look  of  undisguised  scorn  and  de- 
fiance, that  Captain  Ryan  was  inclined  to  whisper  a 
caution,  but  forbore.  The  word  Jews  had  been  so 
spoken  as  to  reach  the  ears  of  some  dosing  members 
of  the  brotherhood  in  an  adjoining  room  ;  and  faces 
were  seen  peeping  with  no  very  friendly  expression, 
through  the  intervening  doorway.  Meanwhile  the 
monk  commenced  crossing  himself,  and  muttering 
prayers,  after  which  he  dipped  his  fingers  into  a  bowl 
that  stood  near,  and  sprinkled  the  water  between  him- 
self and  the  intruder. 

^  Exorcise  as  you  may,'  resumed  the  Jew,  ^  you  will 
not  succeed  in  laying  the  troublesome  spirit.  Perse- 
cute as  you  can,  bely,  calumnate,  torture  and  massacre 


judah's  lion.  231 

to  the  extent  of  your  power,  it  will  not  avail.  The 
Jew,  the  hated  Jew,  will  overmaster  you  yet ;  here, 
on  the  land  of  his  fathers,  he  will  plant  his  foot :  and 
from  sea  to  sea  shall  no  place  be  found  to  shelter  the 
desolating  abomination  that  now  defiles  it.' 

'  Are  you  not  going  too  far  V  whispered  Captain 
Ryan. 

'  No ;'  he  replied  in  English,  •  I  am  protected  by 
an  authority  to  which  they  must  bow,  or  I  should 
long  since  have  followed  the  fate  of  one  whom  they 
sacrificed,  not  here,  but  in  the  mountains  whence  this 
goodly  scion  was  transplanted  ;  and  where,  after  this 
meeting  with  me  he  will  speedily  return.  At  this 
moment  some  infernal  plot  is  ripening  at  Damascus, 
and  he  is  cognizant  of  it.' 

By  this  time  the  superior  had  been  summoned  ; 
who  approaching  with  more  courtesy  than  might  have 
been  expected,  asked  their  business  at  the  convent. 
He  was  told  ;  and  immediately  said  he  would  send  a 
brother  who  was  skilled  in  such  cases,  and  who  should 
be  at  their  quarters  nearly  as  soon  as  themselves.  He 
then  politely  bade  them  farewell,  and  watched  until 
they  quitted  the  convent  door. 

'  Now,  forgive  me,  Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa,  ^  for  I 
certainly  placed  you  in  an  unpleasant  position  ;  but 
hear  my  tale,  briefly  told.  You  know  the  hateful 
charge  brought  against  us  by  these  lying  monks,  and 
entertained  more  or  less  throughout  the  various  classes 
who  usurp  our  land.' 

'  What  charge  V  asked  Alick. 

Da  Costa  looked  at  him  with  surprise  ;  then  said, 
speaking  with  bitter  emphasis,  '  The  charge  of  blood; 


232  JTJDAH  S   LION. 

they  say  that  we,  the  seed  of  Abraham,  knead  our 
passover  bread  with  Christian  blood  ;  to  procure  which, 
we  inveigle  and  murder  them.  That's  the  charge, 
Cohen.' 

'  And  never  since  Satan  began  his  career  as  the  fa- 
ther of  lies  did  he  produce  a  lie  more  diabolical  than 
that,'  exclaimed  Captain  Ryan,  whose  cheek  burned 
with  indignation  and  shame.  '  Never  did  his  infernal 
craft  invent  a  more  detestable  calumny,  to  stain  alike 
the  Jewish  and  the  Christian  name.  Against  you, 
the  followers  of  Moses,  he  lays  an  accusation  involving 
guilt  so  complicated  that  its  very  atrocity  is  almost  in- 
coiiceivable  ;  and  against  us,  the  followers  of  Christ, 
he  commits  an  almost  equal  outrage,  by  inciting  its 
wretched  propagators  to  call  themselves  Christians, 
as  though  we,  who  from  the  innermost  recesses  of  our 
souls  fling  off  all  participation  in  the  slanderous  crime, 
were  among  its  abettors.' 

^  I  know  that  very  well,'  said  Da  Costa,  warmly ; 
'  but  to  proceed  with  my  explanation :  I  brought  out 
with  me  some  few  years  ago  a  young  German  friend 
and  co-religionist  of  my  own,  as  noble  a  fellow  as 
ever  breathed.  We  were  strolling  through  the  land, 
and  reached  among  the  mountains  northward  of  the 
Holy  City,  one  of  those  nests  of  monkery  which  de- 
file our  country  far  more  than  do  the  Mosques  of  the 
Moslem.  The  weather  compelled  us  to  rest  here  for 
a  season,  and  we  were  treated  civilly  enough,  until 
on  declining  to  partake  of  some  dainty  in  which  the 
blood  of  the  animal  was  distinctly  named  as  a  chief 
ingredient,  they  taxed  us,  ay,  taxed  us  with  being 
Israelites.' 


233 

^  Had  you  tried  to  conceal  it  V  asked  Alick. 

'  Not  we.  Our  aspect  was  warrant  enough  for  our 
being  of  the  race  ;  and  no  thought  of  disguise  ever 
entered  our  heads.  When  the  rude  challenge  was 
given,  of  being  concealed  Jews,  we  loudly  and  proudly 
avowed  our  lineage,  and  repudiated  the  idea  of  con- 
cealment. They  then  scoffed  at  our  scruples,  again 
pressing  us  to  eat  of  the  prohibited  viand:  and  when 
we  protested  against  being  thought  capable  of  such 
hypocrisy,  they  hurled  in  our  teeth  the  infamous  re- 
proach alluded  to.' 

'  And  I  hope  you  hurled  your  plate  in  theirs,'  said 
Alick. 

'  Not  exactly :  but  we  were  much  exasperated,  and 
the  altercation  ran  so  high,  that  my  companion,  who 
was  as  well  versed  in  your  scriptures  as  in  our  own,  just 
drew  them  a  picture  of  what  they  ought  to  be  accord- 
ing to  those  books ;  and  of  what  they  are,  as  the  most 
flagrant  idolators  extant ;  in  language  that  the  chief 
monk  pretended  to  regard  as  betokening  a  disposition 
to  do  violence  to  some  of  their  wooden  or  crockery 
gods ;  and  thrust  us  both,  by  dint  of  overpowering 
numbers,  into  a  dark  noisome  place  for  the  night.  It 
would  have  fared  ill  with  us ;  but  I  gave  them  to 
know  that  any  outrage  perpetrated  on  us  would  be 
taken  up  at  once  by  the  English  consul-general,  whose 
word  was,  at  that  juncture,  law  with  the  Turk,  and 
who  would  visit  on  their  system  the  wrong  done  to  his 
countrymen  and  friend.  I  menaced  them  on  the  score 
of  false  imprisonment  also  ;  and  we  were  set  free,  but 
dodged  from  mountain  to  plain,  and  never  believing 

20* 


234 

we  should  regain  our  homes  aUve.  Among  the  fra- 
ternity was  that  fellow  whom  we  have  just  seen. 

'  I  should  have  told  you  that,  in  the  heat  of  their 
revilings,  they  not  only  avowed  but  gloried  in  the 
persecutions  and  massacres  of  their  church ;  and  de- 
clared the  destruction  of  a  Jew  to  be  as  acceptable  in 
the  sight  of  God  as  any  religious  service  whatever: 
this  they  would  afterwards  have  retracted,  but  wo 
could  not  allow  of  it ;  and  perhaps  poor  Wilhelm's 
pertinacity  on  this  point  sealed  his  doom ;  for  ho 
vowed  to  publish  it,  on  his  return  to  Europe,  as  the 
declaration  of  men  who  claimed  infallibility  of  judg- 
ment Not  long  after  this,  we  were  obliged  to  sepa- 
rate for  a  short  space,  each  accompanied  by  two  or 
three  Arab  guides,  whose  hatred  of  the  Franks  seemed 
a  fair  preservative  against  treachery.  I  reached  at 
the  appointed  time  the  place  of  rendezvous,  but  of 
Wilhelm  or  his  conductors  no  trace  could  ever  be 
gained,  nor  did  I,  from  that  time  forward,  detect  a 
vestige  of  the  dodging  system  that  had  been  practised 
thitherto.' 

'  But  surely,'  said  Alick,  '  You  did  not  let  the 
matter  rest  here  V 

'  Did  I  ?  At  the  head  of  a  party  of  stout  fellows,  I 
ransacked  their  den  from  top  to  bottom,  and  left  it 
standing  only  because  there  was  a  possibility  that  in 
some  undiscoverable  recess  my  poor  friend  might  be 
^ecretedj^and  buried  beneath  the  ruins.  In  this  ex- 
ploit I  did  not  so  appear  as  to  be  recognized:  an 
Arab  Shiekh  supplied  what  seemed  to  be  a  party  of 
marauders,  and  I  disguised  myself,  as  I  think,  per- 
fectly :  but  when  afterwards  I  related,  confidentially, 


235 

this  part  of  the  business  to  the  only  individual  through 
whom  pubhc  justice  could  be  obtained,  he  considered 
my  proceeding  as  calculated,  if  discovered,  to  compro- 
mise the  English  interests  in  Syria  ;  and  I  knovi^  too 
v^ell  the  value,  to  my  own  people,  of  the  present  high 
standing  of  Great  Britain  in  the  East,  to  do  that.  No, 
I  am  resolved  never  to  relinquish  the  search  till  some 
clue  be  obtained  of  Wilhelm  ;  but  having,  somewhat 
too  precipitately,  taken  justice  into  my  own  hands,  I 
must  follow  it  out  at  my  proper  hazard.' 

They  had  now  reached  the  dark,  dungeon-like 
house  where  the  sick  child  lay,  and  even  the  stirring 
interest  of  Da  Costa's  story  was  lost  in  solicitude  for 
him.  They  found  him  awake,  and  restless ;  putting 
frequent  questions  to  his  Mother  in  a  rambling  but 
very  earnest  way ;  while  her  looks  told  how  deep  was 
the  trial,  how  submissive  the  spirit  in  which  it  was 
borne. 

When  the  gentlemen  approached,  Charley  cried 
out,  ^  Papa,  this  is  Ramah ;  Rachel  lived  here  ;  but 
this  is  not  Bethlehem,  and  the  children  were  killed  in 
Bethlehem.' 

^  And  in  all  the  coasts  thereof,'  answered  his  father. 

'  Ah,  I  forgot  the  coasts  :  it's  all  true,  so  it  is  :  so  it 
is,'  he  murmured  ;  and  Captain  Ryan  marvelled  if  his 
little  one  had  been  tempted  to  unbelief  at  such  a 
moment,  Charley  soon  resumed, '  They  were  all  Jew- 
babies,  Papa,  were  they  not?' 

'  No  doubt,  my  dear  boy;  and  you  know  that,  like 
cruel  Herod,  cruel  Pharaoh  ordered  all  the  Jew  babes 
to  be  slain,  at  least,  all  the  males.' 


236  judah's  lion. 

'  Ah,  but  Moses  escaped,  and  Jesus  escaped ;  and 
he  is  the  prophet  hke  Moses,  so  he  is.' 

A  short  silence  ensued,  which  was  broken  by  the 
entrance  of  a  monk,  on  whom  Charley  fixed  his  eyes, 
with  wonder :  the  Hebrew  friends  drew  back  a  little, 
to  allow  of  his  approach.  He  examined  the  child, 
put  a  few  questions  to  Captain  Ryan,  and  shook  his 
head. 

*  Are  you  a  doctor  V  Charles  asked. 

^  There  is  no  doctor,  my  love,  in  the  place,'  said 
his  Mother :  ^  this  is  a  kind  priest  who  comes  to  see 
you.' 

'  I  want  a  doctor,  but  I  don't  want  a  priest,  I  won't 
have  the  priest,'  he  added,  loudly,  as  the  recollection 
of  some  scene  in  Ireland  came  over  his  confused 
mind. 

The  monk,  who  seemed  a  mild,  compassionate 
man,  touched  by  the  child's  distressful  tone,  though 
he  knew  not  the  words  spoken,  drew  nearer,  and 
taking  from  the  folds  of  his  robe  a  small  crucifix,  held 
it  before  him.  This  excited  Charley  to  a  great  pitch : 
his  face  became  flushed,  and  he  cried  out  in  a  more 
piercing  tone,  '  I  won't  have  it,  that  idol :  Papa,  take 
me  away — Mr.  Dockster,  I  say  take  away  the  idol.' 

The  Jew's  heart  bounded  to  the  appeal,  and  while 
Captain  Ryan  was  courteously  but  earnestly  explain- 
ing and  justifying  to  the  monk  his  little  boy's  entreaty^ 
Da  Costa  advanced,  intending  by  stooping  over  the 
child  to  interpose  between  him  and  the  object  of  his 
distress:  but  it  was  needless;  on  his  approach  the 
monk  hurried  the  symbol  back  into  his  bosom,  and 
retreated. 


237 

This  was  a  painful  moment  to  the  protesting  Chris- 
tians: they  felt  that  while  only  partaking  in  the  Jew's 
horror  of  idolatry  they  incurred  the  reproach  of  seem- 
ing to  acquiesce  in  his  unbelieving  contempt  of  what 
that  idol  assumed  to  represent;  a  reality  far,  far 
dearer  to  them  than  their  life-blood.  But  it  is  a  small 
matter  to  be  judged  of  man's  judgment,  where  we 
know  that  he  who  truly  judge th  and  shall  judge  is  the 
Lord ;  and  condemned  as  they  felt  themselves  to  be 
of  both  the  unbelieving  Israelite  and  the  Papist,  both 
had  their  heart's  prayer,  both  their  love :  though  it 
cannot  but  be  that  to  them  the  true  Christian's  affec- 
tion must  ever  most  fondly  turn,  and  over  them  must 
he  yearn  with  the  tenderest  solicitude,  who  preserved 
for  him,  and  gave  to  him  the  precious  Bible,  which 
alone  enables  him  to  detect  all  error,  and  to  discern 
all  truth. 

The  monk  shortly  departed,  and  had  at  the  door  a 
short,  low  conversation  with  Captain  Ryan,  who  re- 
turned with  a  saddened  look,  and  folding  his  arms, 
stood  gazing  intently  on  his  child.  Charley,  who  had 
been  quiet  for  some  time,  looked  up  in  his  face,  and 
calmly  asked  him,  '  Papa,  did  that  man  say  I  am 
going  to  die  V 

At  once  every  eye  was  turned  on  the  agitated 
father  ;  and  scarcely  less  fearfully  anxious  was  that  of 
Alick  than  of  the  mother  herself  Da  Costa's  mourn- 
ful expression  bespoke  his  opinion  already  formed ; 
but  he  too  looked,  as  if  to  catch  at  some  gleam  of 
hope.  Captain  Ryan  strove  to  speak,  and  in  a  cheer- 
ful tone,  but  the  effect  was  fruitless ;  he  uttered  an 


238 

incoherent  word  or  two,  and  clasping  his  hands, 
walked  away. 

The  stillness  of  death  prevailed  for  some  moments, 
when  he  again  approached  the  little  couch,  seemingly 
about  to  speak,  but  Charles  prevented  him,  hfting  up 
at  once  his  meek  eyes,  and  his  little  trembling  hands, 
in  a  voice  of  the  most  touching,  imploring  entreaty, 
he  said,  '  Dear  papa  !  please,  papa,  oh,  may  I  go  and 
die  at  Jerusalem  ?     May  I,  papa,  may  I  ?' 

*  You  must  not  talk  of  dying,  Charley,'  said  Da 
Costa,  who  alone  seemed  able  to  speak.  *  At  present 
you  are  not  well  enough  to  be  moved  ;  and  you  will 
be  more  hkely  to  get  well  here.* 

^  Oh,  don't  you  say  that,  Mr.  Dockster,  and  you  a 
Jew.  Sure,  if  I  am  to  get  better,  it's  in  Jerusalem  I 
should  thrive  ;  and  if  I'm  going  to  die,  oh,  but  I  should 
like  to  die,  and  to  be  buried  in  Jerusalem  itself!'  The 
last  words  were  spoken  with  an  animation  approach- 
ing to  gaiety ;  but  the  sudden  return  of  stupor  put  an 
end  to  the  question,  and  Da  Costa  begged  them,  by 
all  means  to  indulge  any  disposition  to  quietness. 

At  nightfall  the  total  want  of  every  comfort  for  a 
sick  room  pressed  more  forcibly  on  their  minds. 
Jerusalem  was  not  so  far  off  as  to  make  the  journey 
formidable  ;  but  the  road  was  bad,  and  accommoda- 
tions w^ere  uncertain.  Da  Costa  could  ensure  them  a 
welcome  to  a  respectable  house,  if  still  tenanted  as 
when  he  last  visited  the  Holy  City ;  but  this  was 
doubtful.  While  the  anxious  discussion  proceeded, 
Alick  stole  away  into  the  adjoining  room  ;  and  creep- 
ing softly  to  the  couch,  listened  to  the  breathings  of 
his  little    friend,  which  were  short  and  quick,  and 


JUDAH  S   LION.  239 

unequal :  he  kneeled  beside  the  bed,  overwhelmed 
with  anxious  sorrow,  and  tried  to  pray,  but  his  views 
seemed  to  have  become  more  darkened  and  perplexed 
than  ever,  probably  because  he  had  carried  his  in- 
quiries farther  and  in  a  more  observant  spirit,  while 
Da  Costa,  with  the  quickness  for  which  he  was  re- 
markable, still  explained  away,  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  man's  wisdom,  those  truths  which  are  only  to 
be  apprehended  by  simple  faith.  Charley's  breath 
soon  assumed  an  articulate  sound;  and  after  some 
low  murmurings,  he  distinctly  repeated 

*  The  Cedars  wave  on  Lebanon, 
But  Judah's  statelier  maids  are  gone.' 

At  the  same  time  a  moonbeam  stole  through  the  un- 
glazed  crevice  that  served  as  a  window,  upon  the 
pillow,  and  shewed  his  eyes  open :  he  turned  them, 
and  putting  his  hand  to  the  face  that  bent  over  him, 
and  which  was  now  moist  with  tears,  he  said,  ^  Dar- 
ling Alick,  I  was  thinking,  or  dreaming,  or  something, 
about  how  I  saw  you  at  sea,  and  how  we  talked,  and 
got  fond  of  one  another ;  I  love  you  very  dearly,  and 
so  does  Jesus  Christ.' 

'  He  loves  you,  Charley,  you  mean.' 

'  And  he  loves  you,  Mr.  Alick,  and  Mr.  Dockster, 
and  all  the  Jews  ;  and  all  the  Christians  that  believe 
in  him  ;  only  you  don't  know  it.  Now  I  know  it,  and 
I  do  be  so  happy  you  can't  think :  I  dare  say  I'm 
going  to  die  ;  and  if  I  did'nt  know  that  Jesus  has  the 
key  of  heaven,  and  if  1  didn't  know  that  he  loves  me, 
how  would  I  get  in  ?     If  he  did  not  love  me,  he  would 


240 

not  let  me  in  ;  and  if  I  didn't  know  he  has  the  key,  I 
couldn't  ask  him  to  let  me  in,  you  know.' 

'  Charley,  every  word  you  speak  goes  to  my  heart, 
hut  I  wonder  why  you  should  think  Jesus  Christ  loves 
the  Jews,  when  they  don't  care  ahout  him  ;  to  say  the 
least  of  it.  And  besides,  if  he  does  love  us,  what  good 
will  it  do  to  us,  since,  as  you  say,  we  don't  know  he 
has  the  key ;  that  means,  the  power.' 

'  Why  there's  the  very  thing  itself  Mr.  Alick.'  The 
trouble  is,  that  you  won't  ask  him,  when  he  is  all 
ready  to  give  you  as  soon  as  you  do.  Sure,  if  you 
asked  him  you  would  get  your  land  back  fast  enough  : 
but  you  won't  ask  him,  either  for  that  or  the  kingdom 
of  heaven,  so  you  don't  get  them.'  Alick  sighed 
heavily  :  '  I'd  rather  have  the  least  corner  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  Charley,  than  even  all  this  goodly 
land,  my  own  land,  the  land  of  my  father  Abraham.' 

'  Have  you  asked  him  for  it  ?'  said  Charley. 

*  I  hardly  know :  I  cannot  frame  my  lips  to  address 
a  prayer  directly  to  him  ;  but  if  thoughts  are  heard, 
he  has  heard  many  a  prayer  from  me  ;  for  I  am 
always  thinking  of  him.' 

'  Think  of  him  still,'  whispered  Mrs.  Ryan,  who, 
concealed  by  the  shade  of  the  room  had  stood  near, 
and  heard  the  latter  part  of  the  conversation.  '  Think 
of  him,  as  the  faithful  and  true  God,  keeing  his  cove- 
nant of  mercy  for  ever.  See  how  he  smooths  the  bed 
of  death,  and  gladdens  the  fleeting  spirit  of  that  infant 
believer  ;  and  how  he  subdues  the  mother's  rebellious 
grief,  and  upholds  the  mother's  fainting  heart,  and 
speaks  peace  to  his  mourners ;  a  peace  sweeter  than 
all  the  joys  of  earth  can  give.' 


241 

*  Mamma,  is  that  you  V  said  Charley. 

^  It  is,  my  darhng.' 

^  Oh,  mamma,  please  let  me  go  to  Jerusalem !' 

'  My  precious  child,  when  I  think  of  all  the  super- 
stition that  has  led  people  away  from  God  to  rest  in 
the  name,  in  the  mere  stones  of  Jerusalem,  and  other 
things  that  are  accounted  holy,  I  do  fear  lest  my 
Charley's  mind  may  be  at  all  drawn  off  from  the 
Lord,  by  this  very  great  anxiety  to  reach  the  place 
where  he  taught  and  suffered.' 

^  It  isn't  that,  mamma ;  but  I  love  Jerusalem  so ! 
I  don't  love  it  better  than  the  heavenly  Jerusalem, 
manmia,  but  I  don't  like  to  stop  here  :  I  don't  like  to 
die  here.' 

Mrs.  Ryan's  inmost  desire  was  to  leave  the  place 
they  were  in,  and  she,  too,  connected  many  calming 
thoughts  with  the  locality  of  Jerusalem.  She  there- 
fore promised  not  to  oppose  the  journey :  and  as 
Charley  was  becoming  drowsy  again,  Alick  left  her 
beside  him. 

Instead  of  returning  to  his  friends,  he  sauntered  out 
into  a  pleasant  grove  of  olive-trees,  interspersed  with 
a  thousand  bright  flowers,  that  lay  just  outside  the 
town.  The  moon  was  clear,  and  nothing  could  ex- 
ceed the  beauty  of  the  scene.  The  air,  balmy  and 
loaded  with  fragrance,  came  refreshingly  to  his  aching 
brow ;  and  when  through  a  vista  of  trees,  the  hill- 
country  of  Judea  broke  on  his  sight,  and  all  the  most 
powerful  feelings  of  his  soul  w^ere  called  at  once  into 
play,  he  could  have  kneeled  to  ask,  in  the  anxious  en- 
quiry of  a  thoroughly  awakened  mind,  whether  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  was  indeed  the  King  of  Israel. 

21 


242 

But  it  was  not  there  that  his  doubt  was  to  be  set- 
tled ;  much  remained  for  him  to  learn,  and  a  sharper 
school  must  prepare  him  for  it.  As  yet,  his  path  had 
been  smooth  and  easy,  with  no  greater  difficulty  to 
encounter  than  the  rising  perplexities  of  his  own 
mind.  Very  different  scenes  were  before  him,  and 
dangers  of  which  he  little  dreamed. 

The  decision  was  taken  to  proceed,  if  circumstances 
admitted  of  their  so  doing ;  and  with  many  misgiv- 
ings, but  still  enabled  to  rest  all  his  care  on  One  well 
able  to  sustain  it,  the  father  placed  his  child  in  the 
conveyance  provided,  with  every  possible  precaution 
against  the  consequence  to  be  dreaded  from  so  exceed- 
ingly rough  a  road :  and  escorted  by  a  larger  body  of 
guards  than  before,  under  the  direction  of  the  friendly 
Armenian,  they  set  forward  towards  the  Holy  City. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Most  lovely  was  the  scenery  through  which  our  tra- 
vellers bent  their  way  for  a  considerable  time  after 
leaving  Ramah,  and  but  for  one  circumstance,  it  would 
have  been  a  season  of  rich  enjoyment.  Da  Costa, 
while  pointing  out  the  ever- varying  beauties  that  sur- 
rounded them,  and  expatiating  on  the  unquestionable 
fertility  of  the  soil,  if  but  common  justice  in  the  way 
of  tillage  was  done  to  it,  seemed  to  lose  the  recollec- 
tion of  his  outcast  condition.  The  land  was  his^  and 
he  spoke  of  it  as  though,  not  only  in  retrospect  and  in 
prospect,  but  also  in  actual  possession,  it  was  his  own. 
Every  group  of  oUves,  every  scattered  oak  was  to  him 
an  object  worth  descanting  on  ;  and  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  Scripture,  which  he  quoted  fluently,  and 
so  far  as  regarded  the  historical  and  geographical 
sense,  with  most  correct  application,  rendered  his  dis- 
course alike  interesting  and  instructive.  '  You  are 
aware,'  said  he,  '  that  it  is  the  fashion  among  those 
who  profess  to  understand  our  Scriptures  better  than 
we  do  ourselves,  either  to  explain  away  by  some 
shadowy  interpretation  what  is  declared  of  the  natural 
fertility  of  this  good  land,  or  else  assert  that  God  has 
smitten  it  by  an  irreversible  decree  of  barrenness,  so 
that  it  shall  never  recover  its  former  fruitfulness.  Ac- 
cording to  them,  the  soil  and  its  inheritors  are  alike 


# 


r^ 


244 


shut  out  from  the  life-giving  favour  of  the  Almighty : 
their  former  distinction  existing  but  in  name  ;  or  rather 
indeed,  as  they  would  make  out,  rendered  more  con- 
spicuous by  the  very  marked  reverse  of  all  that  they 
once  were.  It  may  be  so,  as  regards  the  race  of 
Israel :  it  may  be,'  he  added,  with  a  proud  and  scorn- 
ful smile,  as  he  encouraged  his  fiery  steed  to  prance, 
and  show  forth  his  own  and  his  rider's  stateliness,  *  it 
may  be  that  we  are  all  a  race  of  abject,  spirit-broken 
slaves ;  that  among  us  is  no  intellect,  no  wealth,  no 
enterprise,  no  worldly  wisdom  or  spiritual  knowledge : 
it  may  be  that  every  man's  foot  is  still  on  our  neck, 
and  that  Israel  is  yet  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the 
streets — but  look  at  yonder  patch  of  corn ;  narrow 
though  the  field  be,  how  rich,  how  abundant  is  its  pro- 
duce !  See  that  magnificent  palm,  rearing  its  tufted 
head  on  high,  while  the  brown  olive  boughs  beneath 
it  are  bending  with  the  weight  of  ripening  fruit ;  and 
see  to  the  left  what  a  carpet  of  gorgeous  flowers  is 
spread  out,  springing  in  pure  wanton  defiance  of  hu- 
man culture  from  the  recesses  of  this  neglected  soil — 
I  tell  you  this  country  shall  again  bloom  as  Eden, 
when  once  its  own  sons  have  it  under  their  fostering 
hands.' 

'  And  I  tell  you,'  answered  Ryan,  '  that  they  too, 
the  seed  of  Jacob,  shall  again  blossom  and  bud,  and 
fill  the  face  of  the  world  with  fruit.' 

'  And  you  very  well  know,'  said  Mrs.  Ryan,  ^  that 
your  description  of  what  Israel,  through  grinding  op- 
pression, and  fearful  persecution,  has  been  in  Europe, 
no  longer  exists.  The  Lord  hath  begun  to  take  away 
the  reproach  of  his  people  :   the  wealth  that  formerly 


# 


245 


was  wrung  from  them  by  inliuman  tortures,  is  now 
borrowed  by  states  and  rulers,  on  terms  most  advan- 
tageous to  the  lenders,  affording  them  an  interest  in, 
and  an  influence  over  the  destinies  of  empires.  In 
art,  in  science,  in  literature,  the  Hebrew  continually 
stands  before  us,  successfully  competing  the  highest 
prizes  of  emolument  and  fame.  Your  position  now 
is,  in  reference  to  Ezekiel's  vision,  not  that  of  separated 
bones,  scattered  black  and  bare,  and  very  dry  through- 
out the  valley,  but  of  bones  re-united,  and  rapidly  re- 
ceiving their  covering  of  flesh  and  sinew,  preparatory 
to  the  reception  of  perfect,  glowing  hfe.' 

'  And  that  once  received,'  added  Captain  Ryan, 
^  you  will  rise  up  an  exceeding  great  army,  against 
whom  no  people  shall  be  able  to  stand  ;  for  the  Lord 
your  God  will  be  with  you,  and  the  shout  of  a  king  be 
among  you.' 

Da  Costa  smiled  kindly :  '  I  believe  we  are  well 
agreed  as  to  the  end,  however  we  may  differ  concern- 
ing the  means  of  its  attainment' 

During  this  time,  Alick  never  once  spoke,  nor  did 
his  attention  appear  for  a  moment  diverted  from  the 
little  carriage  in  which  Charley  was  slung,  by  a  con- 
trivance of  his,  more  independent  of  the  motions  of 
the  mule  than  before.  That  child  had  been  to  him 
in  an  especial  manner  the  bearer  of  glad  tidings  if  he 
would  receive  them  as  such  ;  and  he  felt  as  if  to  lose 
him  would  be  a  disjunction  from  the  good  that  he 
was  secretly  longing  to  grasp.  Incessantly  was  he 
gazing  into  the  little  litter,  through  the  aperture  that 
for  ventilation  was  left  in  its  curtain  ;  and  often  did 
the  dull,  heavy  cast  of  a  countenance  ever  bright  with 

21* 


246 

restless  animation,  excite  a  fear  lest  the  last  smile  had 
passed  away.  The  short  dialogue  just  recorded  had 
allowed  him  a  more  protracted  contemplation  of  that 
sunken  face  than  he  had  before  enjoyed  :  and  when 
Captain  Ryan  again  addressed  him,  tears  had  gathered 
in  his  eyes. 

*  Dear  Cohen  !  this  trial  falls  heavily  on  you.  To 
us  it  is  indeed  a  heart-piercing  stroke  ;  but  we  have  a 
consolation,  the  strength  and  sweetness  of  which  how 
gladly  would  we  share  with  you !' 

*  It  is  my  greatest  comfort,  sir,  to  see  you  and  his 
dear  mother  so  supported.' 

*  We  need  a  divine  support,  indeed,  for,  even  were 
he  not  as  he  is,  our  only  one,  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
^ve  over  whose  early  graves  we  have  been  taught 
submission  to  the  will  of  the  Lord,  still  there  is  that 
in  his  character  which  makes  our  hearts  cleave  to  him 
with  a  fondness  no  words  can  pourtray.  But  thanks 
be  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  gifts,  what  most  endears 
him  to  us  now,  will  prove  the  best  source  of  consola- 
tion under  the  bereavement  which  I  feel  but  too  sure 
awaits  us.' 

*  I  never  loved  any  living  thing  half  so  well,'  said 
AHck,  struggling  with  his  grief:  -but  no  wonder,  for 
who  even  among  mature  men  loves  my  people  as  that 
babe  doesV' 

*  It  is  really  marvellous.  You  know,  Cohen,  I  have 
for  some  years  been  much  devoted  to  the  cause  ;  and 
Charles  has  heard  a  good  deal  on  the  subject  at  home  : 
but  there  seemed  to  be  a  sort  of  preparedness  in  his 
young  heart  to  receive  the  promise  of  God's  gracious 
purposes  towards  Israel  with  a  fulness  and  a  gladness 


judah's  lion.  247 

that  I  never  saw  equalled.  Child  as  he  is  in  temper, 
in  manners,  in  language,  on  all  other  points,  he  is 
there  the  enthusiastic  man  ;  and  I  cannot  tell  you 
what  a  gloom  steals  over  my  spirit  while  thus  con- 
ducting him,  insensibly  I  may  almost  say,  through  the 
land  he  so  ardently  longed  to  visit.  It  is  teaching  me 
a  sad,  but  I  hope  a  profitable  lesson,  of  my  own  de- 
ficiency in  single-eyed  devotion.' 

They  continued  for  some  miles  to  pass  over  a  coun- 
try of  smiling  plains ;  but  at  length  the  ascent  began, 
the  road  narrowed,  and  became  extremely  rugged, 
while  before  them,  with  occasional  intermixture  of  a 
verdant  and  cultivated  spot,  rose  piles  of  frowning 
rocks,  and  towering  mountains,  which  gradually  closed 
in  upon  them,  until  their  path  became  a  narrow,  rug- 
ged, steep  defile,  where  two  could  not  without  diffi- 
culty pass  abreast ;  and  where  the  motion  was  such 
that,  with  all  the  anxious  care  of  his  tender  guardians, 
poor  little  Charley  was  rocked  in  his  rough  cradle  with 
a  rudeness  that  completely  dissipated  his  heavy  slum- 
ber, and  drew  forth  exclamations  of  surprise,  if  not  of 
suffering.  He  fancied  himself  on  board  ship,  and 
talked  of  a  storm. 

'  We  are  not  at  sea,  darling,'  said  Alick,  '  but  tra- 
velling through  the  mountain-passes  of  Judea,  on  the 
way  to  Jerusalem.' 

At  that  word  the  boy  lifted  up  his  head,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  Let  me  look  at  Jerusalem!' 

'  You  shall  when  we  come  within  sight  of  it,'  an- 
swered his  father ;  but  some  hours  must  elapse  before 
then.  Lie  still,  Charley,  and  I  will  tell  you  when  we 
approach  the  holy  city.' 


248 

'  I  would  rather  talk,  papa.  Is  this  Mount  Leba- 
non, or  is  it  the  Mount  of  Olives,  or  Mount  Zion,  or 
what  is  it  V 

'  Lebanon,'  answered  Da  Costa,  '  is  at  some  distance 
from  this  place ;  the  Mount  of  Olives  is  over  against 
Jerusalem  ;  and  on  Mount  Zion  the  city  of  David 
itself  was  built.' 

'  Ah,  I  forget,  but  my  head  is  very  foolish,  somehow. 
What  mountain  is  it,  Mr.  Dockster  ?  Is  there  any- 
thing about  it  in  the  Bible  ?' 

^  I  do  not  remember  that  there  is ;  but  we  shall 
soon  see  a  place  about  which  you  have  surely  heard 
much  J  the  plain  where  young  David  fought  Goliath, 
and  destroyed  him.  The  armies,  you  know,  were 
drawn  up  opposite  to  each  other,  Saul  and  the  Israel- 
ites on  one  side,  on  the  other  the  Philistines;  and 
Goliath  came  down  into  the  plain  every  day  to  threaten 
and  taunt  them.' 

^  And  David  choose  some  pebbles  out  of  the  brook,' 
said  Charles,  ^  and  he  put  them  in  his  shepherd's  sling, 
and  slung  them,  and  hit  the  giant  in  the  forehead, 
and  killed  him,  and  took  his  own  sword,  and  cut  off 
his  head  with  it.' 

^  Exactly  so  ;  presently  I  will  shew  you  the  brook 
where  David  got  the  pebbles,  and  the  place  where 
the  giant  fell' 

*The  Philistines  were  bad  people,'  observed 
Charles :   '  they  were  always  persecuting  the  Jews.' 

^  Only  when  they  sinned  ;  when  they  repented,  the 
Lord  always  raised  up  some  deliverer  whom  they  fol- 
lowed, and  under  whose  command  they  all  put  their 
enemies  to  the  rout — as  they  shall  do  again. 


judah's  lion.  249 

*  Yes ;'  answered  Charley,  with  great  energy, '  when 
they  repent  again,  and  when  they  follow  Jesus  Christ, 
so  they  shall.' 

To  this,  of  course,  no  reply  was  given  ;  and  after  a 
moment's  pause,  Charley  raised  his  head  higher,  and 
asked  in  a  shrill  tone,  ^  Why  don't  you  believe,  why 
won't  you  believe  in  Jesus  Christ?' 

Da  Costa  was  still  silent;  but  Charley  became 
more  urgent :  '  Mr.  Dockster,  I  say,  why  won't  you 
beheve  ?' 

*  Suppose,'  said  the  Jew,  ^  I  was  to  ask  you  why 
do  you  believe  ?  but  hush  dear  babe,'  he  added,  see- 
ing him  about  to  reply,  ^  you  will  exhaust  all  your 
little  strength,  at  this  rate.' 

*  It  doesn't  tire  me  at  all,  at  all,'  said  Charley,  '  it 
does  me  good  ;  and  I'll  tell  you  why  I  believe — be- 
cause I  know  he  loves  me.' 

^  You  mean  that  he  loves  you  because  you  believe,' 
said  Alick. 

'  No !  I  don't.  He  loved  me  before  I  believed, 
and  because  he  loved  me,  he  made  me  believe  ;  and 
because  he  loves  me  he  will  take  me  to  heaven,  now, 
or  very  soon.' 

'  You  will  be  more  likely  to  live  if  you  think  less 
of  dying,  my  dear  boy,'  said  Da  Costa ;  '  see,'  he  ad- 
ded, as  a  lovely  animal,  bounding  along  the  mountain- 
side, paused,  and  peered  down  upon  them,  quite  in 
Charley's  view,  '  see  that  merry  little  creature.  I 
hope  you  will  be  like  it  again,  ere  long.' 

'  What  a  pretty  goat !'  said  the  boy. 

^  It  is  not  a  goat,  but  a  Gazelle,  or  Antelope,  a  far 
more  elegant  creature.'     Charley's  countenance  sud- 


250 

denly  lighted  up ;  he  exclaimed,  '  The  wild  Gazelle  ! 
Papa,  the  wild  Gazelle !  Oh,  say  it  for  me  ;'  His 
father  complied,  and  recited  the  lines  with  such  feel- 
ing that  Alick,  who  from  anxiety  and  internal  conflict 
was  become  doubly  sensitive,  could  scarcely  master 
his  emotion.  They  were  now  on  the  point  of  emerg- 
ing from  that  close,  narrow  defile  ;  a  lovely  vale  lay 
before  them,  while  the  mountains,  forming  a  vast  am- 
phitheatre, swept  round  and  rose  in  beautiful  undula- 
tions, height  above  height,  the  stern  rough  stone,  in 
abrupt  ridges,  marking  the  natural  terraces  that 
formed  the  ascent,  of  which  it  was  the  protecting 
wall.  Trees  of  stately  growth,  shrubs  of  delicious 
fragrance,  and  the  richest  profusion  of  wild-flowers, 
adorned  this  landscape,  and  still  the  frolicksome  Ga- 
zelle would  leap  from  one  ledge  to  another,  while  the 
flock  of  mountain-goats  more  quietly  browsed  on  the 
pastures  of  the  valley  below. 

'  Ay,'  said  Da  Costa,  sighing,  as  he  surveyed  the 
magnificent  prospect,  '  those  lines,  coming  as  they  did 
too  from  the  head  of  a  man  who  had  no  heart,  express 
what  volumes  would  fail  in  conveying : — 

'  More  blest  each  pine  that  shades  these  plains 

Than  Israel's  scattered  race  ; 
For,  taking  root,  it  here  remains 

In  solitary  grace. 
It  will  not  leave  its  place  of  birth, 
It  cannot  live  in  other  earth : 

But  we  must  wander  witheringly.' 

That  is  the  very  word — witheringly  ;  the  same  in 
substance ;  in  form,  in  name,  in  nature  unchanged, 
but   all  freshness  and  beauty  dried  up,   bearing  no 


251 

fruit,  incapable  of  farther  growth,  and  subsisting  as  a 
monument  of  what  we  were,  ere  rudely  plucked  up 
from  our  own  rich  soil,  to  become  the  scorn  of  inferior 
plants,  yet  waving  gay  and  green  because  they  were 
never  expatriated.' 

Charley,  meanwhile,  was  murmuring  to  himself  the 
closing  lines. 

Our  Temple  hath  not  left  a  stone, 
And  mockery  sits  on  Salem's  throne. 

'  Well,  I  shall  see  where  Solomon's  temple  stood, 
and  the  other  temple  that  Nehemiah  made :  and  I 
shall  see  the  Mount  of  Olives  where  the  Lord  Jesus 
stood  when  he  wept  over  Jerusalem  ;  and  he  stood 
there  when  he  was  just  going  up  into  heaven ;  and 
he  will  stand  there  when  he  comes  again  to  split  the 
mountain  in  two  :   I  know  that.' 

'What  does  he  mean?'  whispered  Da  Costa,  who 
had  caught  the  last  words  ;  and  Alick,  who  seemed 
restlessly  anxious  to  hear  Charley  talk,  repeated  to 
him  the  question. 

*  I  mean,'  replied  the  child,  '  when  the  Lord  comes 
to  reign,  his  feet  shall  stand  on  the  Mount  of  Olives. 
The  Bible  says  so.' 

'  How  wonderfully  conversant  he  is  in  our  scrip- 
tures !'  remarked  Da  Costa. 

'Yes,'  says  Mrs.  Ryan,  '  he  knows  them  surprisingly 
for  a  child  of  his  age :  but  you  see  all  his  knowledge 
resolves  itself  into  one  thing — love  for  the  Saviour.' 

Again  the  mountains  enclosed  them  so  straitly  that 
they  were  obliged  to  proceed  in  single  file,  and  each 
was  left  to  his  own  meditations.     Alick's  were  inex- 


m 


252  - 


pressibly  painful;  lie  felt  altogether  alone  in  the 
world,  anticipating  the  speedy  dissolution  of  his  little 
companion.  He  seemed  to  occupy  a  position  debar- 
ring him  from  fellowship  with  any  class  of  persons. 
More  than  ever  a  Jew,  he  had  received  so  much  of 
Christian  doctrine  as  made  it  a  matter  of  serious  dis- 
tress to  witness,  or  rather  to  know  the  settled  abhor- 
rence of  his  Hebrew  companion,  and  of  all  his  race, 
against  Him  of  whom  he  was  almost  convinced  that 
Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets  did  write  ;  yet  the 
influence  of  Da  Costa  over  his  feelings  was  consider- 
able, and  it  operated  in  rendering  him  ill  at  ease 
when  listening  to  Captain  Ryan.  He  felt  that  he 
was  watched,  and  almost  suspected ;  and  while  his 
naturally  open  and  fearless  character  rendered  it  most 
painful  to  be  supposed  capable  of  concealing  his  real 
sentiments,  he  felt  that,  so  far  as  he  had  gone  in 
admitting  disputed  points,  he  could  not  sustain  an 
argument  in  their  defence,  and  would  not  wrong  the 
truth  by  sanctioning  an  enemy's  supposition  that  it  was 
indefensible  by  sound  argument.  He  wished  himself 
in  Charley's  situation,  if  the  same  faith  and  hope 
were  given  to  sustain  him  in  it ;  but  without  these, 
death  was  a  subject  from  which  he  shrank  affrighted. 
His  favourite  project  of  studying  the  Bible  with  Da 
Costa  had  not  yet  been  carried  into  effect;  and 
among  men  there  seemed  no  sympathy  for  him.  But, 
when  he  turned  his  eye  upon  the  hills  that  rose 
around  him,  there  was  indeed  a  fellowship  unspeak- 
able in  that  strange,  solemn,  solitary  landscape,  beau- 
tiful in  its  desolate  grandeur,  and  oh,  how  rich  in  its 
sacred  associations  !    '  Here,'  thought  he,  ^  my  fathers 


judah's  lion.  253 

dwelt  beneath  the  immediate  guardianship  of  the 
Mighty  One  :  they  were  not  left  to  grope  among  con- 
flicting opinions,  all  pressed  on  them  with  the  confi- 
dence that  belongs  to  truth  alone  ;  but  they  were 
taught  and  led  by  men  whose  sacred  commission  was 
sealed  and  ratified  by  daily  signs  from  heaven.  Then, 
all  these  rocky  terraces  were  covered  with  rich  soil, 
mantled  by  the  vine,  and  perpetually  trodden  by  the 
feet  of  the  rejoicing  husbandman,  whose  temporal  and 
spiritual  wants  were  alike  supplied  by  the  great  King 
of  Israel.  Here,  angels  communed  with  men,  and 
visions  from  heaven  illumined  the  minds  of  our  seers, 
and  the  echoes  that  now  faintly  give  back  the  tramp 
of  our  horses  along  this  stony  road,  rang  with  the 
reverberated  song  of  gladness  and  praise.  O  land 
most  beloved!  why,  why  are  you  forsaken,  trodden 
down,  and  changed  into  a  wilderness  ?  why  are  your 
sons  wanderers  among  the  Gentiles,  their  minds  so 
darkened,  their  hearts  so  ahenated  that  they  are 
content  to  be  outcasts  from  you  7  Would  that  one  of 
the  heavenly  messengers  who  came  to  my  fathers,  to 
Gideon,  to  Manoah,  to  Daniel  and  the  prophets, 
would  also  come  to  me  and  explain  what  now  per- 
plexes me.  Do  they  not  wander  here  still,  though 
concealed  from  our  eyes?  Is  this  good  and  pleasant 
land  forsaken  of  all  its  celestial  friends  T 

He  continued  thus,  in  silent  bitterness  of  spirit,  to 
meditate  on  his  own  and  his  country's  doom  :  Captain 
Ryan  marked  it  all,  and  was  fully  resolved  to  speak 
out  with  unreserved  faithfulness  so  soon  as  opportu- 
nity was  afforded  ;  but  the  way  became  more  rough 
and  difficult,  more  trying  to  poor  little  Charley,  and 

22 


254 

overpowering  to  his  mother.  The  guides  had  com- 
menced wrangUng,  and  despite  the  earnest  efforts  of 
the  Armenian,  their  angry  voices  often  broke  with 
alarming  effect,  on  the  travellers'  ears.  The  day  was 
drawing  On,  and  fatigue  began  to  manifest  itself 
painfully  in  the  looks  of  the  little  sufferer,  who  was 
evidently  quite  awake  and  sensible,  when  suddenly  a 
loud  voice  from  the  van  proclaimed  that  in  a  few 
minutes  the  Holy  City  would  be  within  view. 

The  movement  occasioned  by  this  announcement 
did  not  escape  Charley ;  he  asked  the  cause,  and 
being  told — for  his  parents  never  deceived  him  in  any 
matter, — he  cried  out,  '  Now,  Papa !  now  take  me 
upon  your  horse !' 

Captain  Ryan  looked  alarmed  ;  and  whispered  to 
Da  Costa,  '  impossible  !' 

But  Charley  again  called  out,  ^  Papa !  you  prom- 
ised.' 

Again  Captain  Ryan  looked  at  his  friend,  who 
said,  after  calling  for  a  halt,  '  You  cannot  do  it  with 
safety,  but  I  can.  My  horse's  pace  is  very  easy  and 
smooth  ;  he  knows  every  foot  of  this  particular  road  ; 
I  feel  it  is  asking  a  good  deal  to  ask  you  to  give  up  to 
me  so  precious  a  charge  ;  but  I  will  be  most  careful, 
indeed  I  will :  he  must  not  be  agitated  by  a  denial ; 
and  I  wish  so  much  to  have  the  privilege,  for  I  love 
that  boy  dearly,  dearly ! — And  this  is  Jerusalem — and 
I  am  a  Jew.' 

Captain  Ryan  had  never  seen  this  accomplished 
man  of  the  world  so  agitated  by  unrestrained  emotion  : 
he  felt  it,  and  taking  Charley  out  of  his  little  crib, 
without  a  word  spoken,  he  folded  a  shawl  about  him, 


judah's  lion.  255 

and  placed  him  in  the  arms  of  Da  Costa,  whose 
look  of  gratitude  and  dehght  overpaid  even  that 
sacrifice. 

'  Have  I  done  right,  love  ?'  whispered  the  father, 
as  he  turned  a  glistening  eye  on  his  wife,  by  whose 
side  he  again  stationed  himself 

'  Always,  always  right,  my  beloved!'  she  answered, 
'  and  in  this  instance  my  heart  especially  goes  along 
with  yours.  I  cannot  tell  you  how  stilled  I  feel  just 
now :  murmuring  seems  hushed,  self  almost  annihi- 
lated. Can  it  be  that  we  are  indeed  about  to  look 
upon  the  city  of  our  God — the  very  scene  of  his  suf- 
ferings, who  by  those  sufferings  ransomed  us  from  the 
power  of  the  grave  ?  Who  has  by  those  sufferings 
opened  the  gate  of  heaven,  and  now  stands  ready 
to  receive  the  happy  spirit  of  that ' — she  could  not 
proceed. 

'  It  is  even  so,'  replied  her  husband :  ^  and  oh,  let 
all  selfish  emotions  be  swallowed  up  in  the  glorious 
prospect  of  Zion's  welcome  to  her  returning  King.' 

Meanwhile,  Charley  was  placed  most  carefully  and 
tenderly  by  Da  Costa  almost  within  the  folds  of  his 
robe,  which  he  loosoned  for  the  purpose,  the  little 
boy's  head  nestled  on  his  bosom,  with  the  face  literally 
set  Zionward  ;  and  so  cradled  in  the  arms  of  his 
friend  as  to  be  almost  independent  of  the  saddle's 
support.  He  was  exceedingly  weak,  like  an  infant, 
but  just  then  quite  free  from  fever,  though  breathless 
with  eager  expectation.  Da  Costa  kissed  his  damp 
forehead,  and  asked  if  he  were  comfortable.  Charley 
raised  his  eyes:  he  evidently  did  not  till  that  moment 
know  who  held  him,  and  fixing  on  him  a  look  full  of 


256  judah's  lion. 

love  and  gladness,  replied  by  ejaculating,  '  you  darlint 
of  a  Jew!' 

But  where  was  Alick?  Some  paces  removed  from 
the  rest,  absorbed  in  thoughts  and  feelings  that  ren- 
dered all  which  passed  around  him  a  mere  dream. 
Every  object  within  his  view  seemed  gifted  with  a 
voice  to  address  him  in  language  at  once  tender,  up- 
braiding, and  encouraging.  He  could  not  disconnect 
from  them  the  idea  of  Him  whom  he  was  at  one  mo- 
ment disposed  to  worship  as  the  incarnate  God,  at 
another  to  shun  as  tempting  him  into  idolatrous  sin. 
He  breathed,  in  a  low  voice,  the  irreversible  declara- 
tion of  the  Most  High,  so  dearly  cherished  by  his 
people,  "  Hear,  O  Israel !  the  Lord  thy  God  is  a 
Unity ;"  and  again  he  seemed  to  hear  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth responding  "  I  and  my  Father  are  One."  When 
the  rest  halted,  he  did  the  same,  mechanically ;  and 
when  the  word  was  again  given  to  move  on,  he  also 
obeyed  ;  but  in  the  intenseness  of  that  internal  strug- 
gle, even  Charley's  transfer  was  unnoticed. 

Slowly,  and  in  deep  silence,  the  party  now  began 
to  ascend  a  rise  in  the  road  ;  and  after  proceeding  for 
some  time  on  level  ground,  the  guides  uttered  in  diffe- 
rent languages  the  same  name,  and  turning  their 
horses  aside,  allowed  the  travellers  to  advance. 
There,  stretched  in  long,  unequal  line,  rose  in  the  dis- 
tance before  them  the  solid  wall  of  the  city ;  with  here 
and  there  a  round  dome  peering  above  its  stern  out- 
line, or  a  slender  minaret  upraising  its  more  light  and 
lofty  form.  There  was  no  moving  thing  at  that  mo- 
ment within  view :  they  might  have  been  the  only 
breathing  creatures  on  earth's  surface  for  aught  they 


2e5r 

could  see  or  hear  of  animated  life  ;  and  this,  joined 
with  the  tomb-like  aspect  of  the  spot  before  them, 
added  greatly  to  the  solemnity  of  the  moment.  Cap- 
tain Ryan  impulsively  uncovered  his  head  ;  his  wife, 
placing  her  hand  on  his  arm,  leaned  treniblingly,  and 
burst  into  tears.  Alick,  wholly  incapable  of  longer 
control,  dismounted,  and  pressed  his  lips  to  the  ground  ; 
while  Da  Costa,  after  casting  towards  him  one  look 
of  sympathy,  raised  little  Charley's  hand  in  his,  and 
pointed  it  towards  the  holy  city,  at  the  same  time  al- 
most dreading  that  the  excitement  might  extinguish 
the  feeble  remains  of  life  in  his  little  frame. 

But  it  was  far  otherwise  :  no  sooner  had  the  boy's 
eye  caught  the  precious  object,  than  he  passed  as  it 
were  into  a  new  state  of  existence.  He  cried  out : 
*'  Beautiful  for  situation,  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth,  is 
Mount  Zion,  the  city  of  the  living  God  !"  Then  clap- 
ping his  hands,  he  shouted,  '  Jerusalem !  Jerusalem ! 
I  see  Jerusalem.  Papa,  mamma,  there's  Jerusalem  ; 
don't  you  see  Jerusalem  ?  Oh,  now  say  the  verses, 
Papa,  do,  do  !   ''  The  glorious  day." 

Captain  Ryan  was  instantly  by  his  side,  and  catch- 
ing the  flash  of  the  child's  enthusiasm,  he  repeated, 
with  all  the  ardour  of  a  thoroughly-excited  Irishman, 
those  beautiful  lines, 

1  But  who  shall  see  the  glorious  day, 

When,  throned  on  Zion's  brow, 
The  Lord  shall  rend  that  veil  away 

Which  blinds  the  nations  now  1 
When  earth  no  more  beneath  the  fear 

Of  his  rebuke  shall  lie ; 
When  pain  shall  cease,  and  every  tear 
Be  wiped  from  ev'ry  eye  1 
22* 


258 

Then,  Judah  !  thou  no  more  shalt  mourn 

Beneath  the  heathen's  chain. 
Thy  days  of  splendour  shall  return, 

And  all  be  new  again  : 
The  fount  of  life  shall  then  be  quaffed 

In  peace  by  all  who  come, 
And  every  wind  that  blows  shall  waft 

Some  long-lost  exile  home  ! 

Da  Costa  listened  to  these  lines ;  then,  raising  high 
his  arm,  he  uttered  a  prayer  of  monthly  observance  in 
the  synagogue,  and  his  voice  sounded  far  over  the 
rocky  plain  on  which  they  had  halted : 

"  Comfort,  O  Lord  our  God !  the  mourners  of 
Zion,  and  the  mourners  of  Jerusalem,  the  city  that 
mourns,  which  also  lays  waste  and  is  destroyed  ;  re- 
proached and  desolate  :  who  mourns  for  the  sake  of 
her  children,  that  is  solitary  for  her  inhabitants,  robbed 
of  her  honour,  desolate  without  the  inhabitants  of  her 
dwellers  ;  with  her  head  ashamed,  like  unto  a  barren 
woman  that  beareth  not.  She  is  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow,  because  her  inheritors  are  worshippers  of 
images,  who  smote  thy  people  Israel  with  the  sword, 
and  slew  wilfully  the  saints  of  the  Most  High.  There- 
fore Zion  with  bitterness  weepeth,  and  Jerusalem  Hft- 
eth  up  her  voice.  O,  my  heart !  my  heart  grieve th 
for  those  that  were  slain  ;  O,  my  bowels,  my  bowels, 
for  those  that  were  killed  ;  for  thou,  O  Lord,  with  fire 
hast  consumed  it,  and  with  fire  thou  wilt  again  re- 
build it :  as  it  is  written.  For  I,  saith  the  Lord,  will  be 
to  her  a  wall  of  fire  round  about  it,  and  will  be  the 
glory  in  the  midst  of  her.  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord! 
the  Comforter  of  Zion,  and  the  Builder  of  Jerusalem!" 
Alick,  who  had  risen  and  stood  to  join  in  this  prayer, 


259 

now  loudly  and  fervently  ejaculated  with  him  the  re- 
sponse : — 

^'  Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord ;  who  rehuildest  Jeru- 
salem !"* 

They  went  on  their  way,  and  they  went  with  songs 
of  praise  and  of  supplication,  for  Captain  Ryan  joined 
the  two  Hebrews  in  chaunting,  in  their  own  sublime 
language,  some  of  the  Psalms  so  dear  to  them,  con- 
stantly used  in  the  Sabbath  service,  from  the  95th  to 
the  100th.  And  then,  as  they  approached  closer  to 
the  walls.  Da  Costa  and  Alick  burst  forth  again  into 
another  of  their  sacred  chaunts. 

"  O  thou  sanctuary  of  the  King  !  O  Royal  City ! 
Arise,  and  come  forth  from  thy  subversion  ;  thou  hast 
dwelt  long  enough  in  the  abode  of  calamity,  for  he 
will  now  pity  thee  with  kindness.  Come,  my  be- 
loved, to  meet  the  bride. 

"  Shake  off  the  dust,  arise,  O  my  people  !  and 
adorn  thyself  with  thy  beautiful  attire ;  for  by  the 
hand  of  Jesse  the  Bethlehemite  redemption  draweth 
nigh  to  my  soul.  Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet  the 
bride. 

"Rouse  thyself;  rouse  thyself;  Arise,  shine,  for 
thy  light  is  come.  Awake,  awake,  utter  a  song  ;  for 
the  glory  of  the  Lord  is  revealed  upon  thee.  Come 
my  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

"  Be  not  ashamed,  neither  be  thou  confounded. 
O  Jerusalem,  why  art  thou  cast  down  ?  why  art  thou 
disquieted  ?  In  thee  the  poor  of  my  people  shall 
take  refuge,  and  the  city  shall  be  built  on  her  own 
heap.     Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride. 

*  Daily  Prayers  of  the  German  and  Polish  Jews,  p.  33. 


2eo 

"  They  who  spoil  thee  shall  become  a  spoil ;  and 
they  that  swallow  thee  up  shall  be  removed  far 
away ;  thy  God  wiU  rejoice  in  thee  as  the  bridegroom 
rejoiceth  in  the  bride.  Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet 
the  bride. 

^'  On  the  right  and  on  the  left  wilt  thou  be  ex- 
tended, and  the  Eternal  wilt  thou  revere ;  through 
the  means  of  a  man,  the  descendant  of  Pharez,  will 
we  rejoice  and  be  glad.  Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet 
the  bride. 

"  O  come  in  peace,  thou  crown  of  thy  Husband  ; 
also  with  joy  and  mirth,  in  the  midst  of  the  faithful 
and  beloved  people.  Enter  O  bride.  Enter  O  bride  ! 
Come,  my  beloved,  to  meet  the  bride."* 

Deep  was  the  heart-breathed  melody  of  the  two 
voices  that  with  rapid,  yet  most  clear  and  emphatic 
utterance  chaunted  forth  these  glowing  a.«jpirations, 
their  countenances  lighted  up  by  the  lofty  theme, 
and  the  beloved  City  full  before  them.  In  heart  and 
soul,  though  not  audibly,  their  Gentile  friends  accom- 
panied the  song ;  and  even  Charley  was  able  to  do 
so  ;  for  he  had  many  and  many  a  time  read  it  to  his 
mamma  in  English,  and  she  to  him  in  Hebrew.  As 
the  last  rich  tone  died  away,  they  were  close  to  the 
walls  of  the  city  ;  and  at  that  moment  appeared  on  the 
platform  of  a  lofty  minaret,  a  Muezzim,  who  pro- 
claimed in  the  usual  loud  voice  of  his  office,  "  There  is 
but  one  God,  and  Mahomet  is  his  prophet."  The 
words  were  Arabic :  with  what  a  sickening  effect  they 
fell  on  the  ears  of  those  travellers  may  be  imagined. 
The  colour  mounted  high  in  Captain  Ryan's  face, 
*  Daily  Prayers  of  the  German  and  Polish  Jews,  p.  58. 


«61 

while  Da  Costa's  became  livid ;  and  his  countenance 
assumed  an  expression  of  which  it  had  scarcely  seemed 
capable  before.  The  ghastly  blue  of  his  lips  as  they 
parted  upon  his  clenched  teeth,  the  fierce  scowl  that 
overhung  his  upturned  eye,  were  absolutely  terrific  ; 
but  this  was  momentary,  and  it  gave  place  to  an  ex- 
pression of  the  bitterest  sorrow.  Alick's  look,  on  the 
contrary,  was  one  of  such  undisguised  menace  that  it 
alarmed  the  Armenian,  who  rode  near  him,  and  in- 
duced a  whisper  of  caution,  which  would  have  been 
little  heeded,  had  not  Captain  Ryan  enforced  it  for 
Charley's  sake.  The  boy  had  never  withdrawn  his 
gaze  from  the  city  walls,  except  to  turn  it  for  a  mo- 
ment on  his  friend,  who  possessed  in  an  eminent  de- 
gree that  general  gift  of  his  people,  a  rich  melodious 
voice.  They  were  now  close  to  the  gate,  and  with 
wondering  awe-struck  eye  the  child  looked  up  to  the 
summit  of  the  square  tower  of  which  it  forms  a  part. 
The  imposing  effect  of  those  stern-looking  walls  and 
embattled  turrets  seemed  to  overcome  not  only  him 
but  his  mother  ;  and  Alick,  as  he  proudly  measured 
with  his  eye  the  height  of  the  barriers,  seemed  to  for- 
get the  preceding  moment's  annoyance.  He  was  not 
prepared  to  see  in  his  desolate  Zion  such  massive  for- 
tifications, so  many  munitions  of  war.  His  imagina- 
tion had  rather  pictured  the  half-built  wall  on  which, 
in  the  derisive  language  of  Nehemiah's  opposers,  if  a 
fox  but  went  up,  he  should  break  it  down  ;  those  mar- 
tial ramparts,  as  they  towered  high  above  his  head, 
awoke  within  his  bosom  a  response  characteristic  of 
the  naturally  impetuous  and  fiery  youth.  That  innate 
sense  of  actual  right  and  proprietorship  with  which 


262 

the  Jew  looks  upon  every  stone,  not  only  of  the  city 
but  of  the  whole  land,  filled  his  mind  ;  and  the  feel- 
ing was  as  though  he  were  about  to  demand  from  the 
paynim  usurper  a  surrender  of  that  to  which  he  him- 
self could  advance  an  indisputable  title  ;  and  to  com- 
pel the  other  Gentile  strangers, — in  practice  farther 
removed  from  scriptural  customs  than  the  Moslem 
•himself,  though  professing  to  hold  the  only  true  faith 
— to  evacuate  that  hallowed  spot,  doubly  polluted  by 
their  idolatries. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Who  shall  describe  the  feelings  of  Alick  Cohen 
when  he  found  himself  actually  entering  the  city  of 
Jerusalem  !  Their  path  lay  near  the  citadel,  which 
rises,  a  cluster  of  stately  towers,  a  little  to  the  right ; 
and  in  wonder  he  raised  his  eyes  to  the  mighty  pro- 
portions of  that  tower  of  Hippicus  which  dates  from 
the  days  of  Herod ;  and  as  a  military  guard  emerged 
from  its  dark  walls  to  relieve  that  which  had  charge 
of  the  gate,  the  fire  of  his  glance  was  again  kindled, 
and  the  thought  passed  through  his  mind,  '  I  fancied 
Jerusalem  a  heap  of  ruins — ^how  different  it  is  !  Oh 
for  a  storming  party  of  the  sons  of  Jacob,  to  carry 
these  fortifications  !  Oh  for  a  little  band  of  true  Isra- 
elites to  man  these  walls !  We  need  no  Nehemiah 
to  build  them  up,  for  they  are  in  noble  preservation  ; 
and  what  matter  if  another  Sennacherib  with  his 
godless  host  encamped  without  them,  would  Israel 
fear?  would  the  lion  of  Judah  quail?'  He  gazed 
around  him  as  the  words  rose  almost  to  his  lip,  and 
encountered  the  eye  of  Da  Costa  frsed  on  him  with 
scrutinizing  earnestness,  and  an  expression  sternly  sad, 
which  recalled  other  thoughts  of  national  sin  and  na- 
tional chastisement,  so  often  the  theme  of  that  noble 
Jew's  discourse  ;  but  the  longing  of  his  heart  was 
irrepressible,  the  current  of  his  fancy  could  not  be 


^64 

turned.  To  re-conquer  Jerusalem  seemed  an  enter- 
prise so  feasible,  when  he  thought  of  the  number,  the 
wealth,  the  moral  and  physical  power  of  his  nation 
scattered  over  the  whole  world,  that  in  imagination  he 
already  grasped  the  sword  ;  already  charged  through 
those  narrow  streets,  and  drove  before  him  the  min- 
gled rout  of  whom  a  stray  individual  only  now  and 
then  crossed  his  path,  with  look  so  vacant,  pace  so 
leisurely,  that  it  added  fuel  to  the  fire  of  his  excited 
spirits.  What  did  they  there  ?  was  his  indignant 
enquiry ;  was  Zion  to  be  trodden  under  foot  by  such 
as  they ! 

The  thread  of  his  thoughts  was  suddenly  broken 
by  an  exclamation  in  Enghsh,  ^  Is  it  possible  !'  and  in 
a  moment  a  gentleman  sprang  towards  the  Ryans, 
who  on  their  part  returned  his  greeting  most  joyously. 
A  few  words  sufficed  for  explanation,  their  course  was 
altered  ;  and  after  traversing  a  narrower  street  they 
stopped  at  the  door  of  a  respectable  house,  and  the 
stranger,  lifting  Mrs.  Ryan  from  her  horse,  said, 
'  This  is  your  home  ;  a  place  destitute  indeed  of  all 
that  we  account  ccnveniences  ;  but  oh,  it  is  in  a  spot 
hallowed  by  the  footsteps  of  him  who  had  not  where 
to  lay  his  head  !' 

Charley  was  now  resigned  by  Da  Costa  to  the  arms 
of  his  father,  in  a  dozing  state  that  seemed  to  promise 
refreshing  sleep.  Captain  Ryan,  as  he  took  him, 
turned  to  the  stranger,  and  said,  '  Moore,  these  are 
two  Hebrew  friends  to  whom  I  and  mine  are  more 
indebted  than  I  have  words  to  tell.' 

The  Missionary,  for  such  he  was,  though  only  at 
that  time  a  temporary  dweller  in  the  Holy  City,  bow- 


265 

ed  low,  and  said  that  in  truth  and  sincerity  he  should 
deem  it  an  honour  to  receive  them  under  his  roof; 
only  regretting  that  its  limited  space  would  not  afford 
more  than  one  apartment  for  the  accommodation  of 
his  friends.  To  this  Da  Costa  returned  a  courteous 
assurance  that  he  and  Alick  were  secure  of  good  quar- 
ters ;  that  he  rejoiced  in  the  more  suitable  lodging 
thus  provided  for  Mrs.  Ryan  and  her  child  ;  and  that 
they  would  gladly  avail  themselves  of  his  permission 
to  look  in  on  their  friends  after  making  some  neces- 
sary arrangements.  They  then  relinquished  their 
horses  to  the  guides,  and  struck  off  into  another 
street. 

'  Now,  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa,  affectionately  press- 
ing the  arm  that  was  linked  in  his,  '  You  really  must 
restrain  yourself  a  little.     This  is  not  London.' 

'  I  know  that  right  well.  Da  Costa  ;  every  pulse  in 
my  heart,  every  sinew  in  my  body,  every  breath  of 
my  life  proclaims — This  is  Jerusalem  !' 

'  Softly  !'  returned  the  other,  as  he  strove  to  mode- 
rate the  pace  of  Alick' s  stride,  you  will  attract  atten- 
tion, and  be  forced  in  the  darkness  of  some  prison-cell 
to  realize  the  galling  fact,  that  here  in  our  glorious 
city,  other  lords  beside  the  God  of  Israel  have  domin- 
ion over  us.' 

'  Ay,  Da  Costa,  but  why  should  they  ?  Are  we  not 
able  to  dispute  possession  of  this  place  ?  Is  it  not  our 
own  ?  and  if  so,  could  we  not  soon,  very  soon  wrest  it 
from  the  hands  of .' 

Da  Costa  interrupted  him ;  '  The  Lord  our  God 
hath  not  yet  arisen  for  the  scattering  of  his  enemies. 
Of  ourselves  we  can  do  nothing  ;  or  if  we  could,  if 

23 


I 


266 


judah's  lion. 


even  we  at  this  hour  held  possession,  as  those  scoun- 
drels now  do,  of  the  city  and  the  land,  what  would  it 
avail  us,  so  long  as  Israel's  King  acknowledged  us 
not  ?  Ah,  Cohen,  it  was  not  in  her  towers  and  bul- 
warks that  Zion  gloried,  but  because  God  was  known 
in  her  palaces  as  a  sure  refuge  :  it  was  not  the  flash- 
ing of  the  scymetar  that  bespoke  her  safely  guarded, 
but  the  dazzling  light  of  the  Shecinah  shining  above 
the  mercy-seat  It  was  not  to  the  shout  of  armed  men, 
that  she  owed  her  assurance  of  victory,  but  to  the  still 
small  voice  of  divine  inspiration,  speaking  to  the  soul, 
and  again  by  the  lip  of  her  prophets.  Would  you 
care  to  dwell  in  the  city  of  your  fathers,  unowned  by 
the  God  of  your  fathers,  Alick  Cohen  V 

*  No ;  but  why  should  we  doubt  his  love  to  Israel, 
his  readiness  to  receive  again,  and  again  to  bless  his 
own  people  V  said  Alick. 

^  I  cannot  answer  that  question :  but  I  am  taking 
you  to  a  scene  that  will,  at  any  rate,  impress  you  with 
present  realities,  combined  with  a  heart-rending  me- 
morial of  the  past.  We  are  now,'  he  added,  *  tread- 
ing on  the  verge  of  Zion.  You  know  the  ancient 
walls  enclosed  a  much  larger  space  than  these  do ; 
they  comprehended  the  whole  of  Mount  Zion ;  but 
of  that  only  a  portion  is  now  included  in  the  city. 
We  press  it  at  this  moment :  these  are  the  stones, 
this  the  dust  of  Zion — the  dust  in  which  her  glory 
and  honour  are  laid  !' 

Alick  stooped,  picked  up  a  small  stone,  which  he 
kissed,  and  holding  it  in  his  clasped  hand  said,  *  I 
value  it  above  all  the  gems  in  the  regal  crowns  of  all 
earth's  monarchs.' 


#■ 


267 

*  So  do  I ;  but  now  I  have  a  different  and  more  de- 
plorable ruin  to  point  out  to  you  ;  down  yonder  is  the 
Jews'  quarter.' 

^  There  !  Are  those  filthy  hovels  the  dwellings  of 
our  people  at  Mount  Zion  ?' 

*  Ay,  and  those  more  miserable  poverty-stricken  ob- 
jects are  the  seed  of  Abraham,  the  children  of  the  pro- 
phets, the  people  to  whom  God  gave  this  land,  and 
whom  he  made  a  terror  to  the  whole  earth.  To  this 
wretched  corner  are  they  restricted  by  the  authority 
of  those  who  rule  the  land :  and  I  am  not  going  to 
penetrate  it  now;  come  down  this  narrow  lane;  I 
will  show  you  the  highest  privilege  possessed  by  our 
nation,  and  for  which  they  pay  a  heavy  price  to  the 
domineering  heathen.' 

The  road  along  which  they  passed  was  narrow, 
dirty,  and  obscure  :  it  issued  at  last  into  an  open  space, 
where  rose  a  high  blank  wall,  of  very  ancient  appear- 
ance. Here  sat  three  or  four  men,  chiefly  aged,  their 
apparel  poor,  but  studiously  neat  and  clean,  their 
countenances  worn  with  care  and  toil,  and  their  voices 
joining  in  a  low,  tremulous  chaunt,  the  sorrowful, 
dirge-like  tones  of  which  were  the  most  melancholy 
the  young  man  had  ever  heard.  Tears  were  rolling 
down  their  cheeks,  and  moistening  the  long  beards  of 
the  old  men :  and  something  like  fear  was  in  the  hasty 
glance  with  which  they  surveyed  the  approaching 
strangers.  '  Go  and  speak  to  them,'  whispered  Da 
Costa,  in  a  voice  of  deep  emotion,  while  he  averted 
his  face  ;  '  speak  in  our  own  hallowed  tongue.' 

Alick  approached  ;  one  old  man  held  a  worn  and 
soiled  book  in  his  hand,  which  he  saw  was  the  Psalms 


268  judah's  lion. 

of  David  in  Hebrew.  He  stooped  and  addressed 
them  in  the  language  of  their  prophet ;  '  Ye  that  make 
mention  of  the  Lord  keep  not  silence,  and  give  him 
no  rest,  till  he  establish,  and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a 
praise  in  the  whole  earth." 

Gazing  up  in  astonishment  at  the  bright  counte- 
nance of  their  young  brother,  the  poor  men  seized  his 
hands,  and  the  skirts  of  his  coat,  kissed  them,  and 
with  a  fresh  burst  of  tears  replied  in  the  words  of  their 
melancholy  hymn,  one  saying,  in  slow  recitative,  and 
the  others  responding  to  the  same  tone, 

"  "We  sit  alone  and  weep." 

Alick  was  presently  on  the  ground  among  them,  ask- 
ing questions  with  an  eagerness  that  outran  his  ac- 
quaintance with  the  language,  and  required  the  fre- 
quent assistance  of  his  friend.  They  told  him  that 
the  wall  under  which  they  sat  contained  a  fragment 
of  the  ancient  masonry  of  their  city,  and  bounded  the 
space  occupied  by  Solomon's  temple  :  that  they  pur- 
chased from  the  Turkish  governor  permission  to  ap- 
proach it  once  every  week,  and  there  they  assem- 
bled, to  weep  over  the  past,  and  to  pray  for  the  future. 
It  was  late  in  the  day  ;  the  greater  number  had  re- 
turned home,  but  they  could  not  leave  the  spot  while 
the  privileged  time  of  remaining  there  was  unexpired. 
In  answer  to  Alick's  earnest  enquiry  whether  they 
did  not  expect  to  see  Jerusalem  delivered  from  all  in- 
truders, and  the  worship  of  the  God  of  Israel  re-estab- 
lished, and  the  tribes  restored,  they  answered,  "  Not 
in  our  day  ;  not  in  our  day." 

'  Why  not !   our  prayers  and  our  hymns  repeat  the 


w  ^  ... 

judah's  lion.  269 

supplication,  "  In  haste,  in  haste,  in  our  day  ;  speedily, 
speedily  ;  Lord  build,  Lord  build,  build  thy  temple 
speedily!"  When  you  ask,  why  don't  you  believe 
that  you  shall  receive  what  you  ask  for  ?  that  is  the 
way  to  get  it.'  Alick  forgot  that  he  was  quoting  the 
New  Testament. 

'  We  have  asked,  and  our  fathers  have  asked,  and 
our  children  shall  ask ;  but  the  time  is  not  come. 
We  shall  weep  and  wail  in  this  holy  place,  as  did  our 
fathers,  and  as  also  shall  our  children.  The  time  is 
not  yet.' 

^  How  do  you  know  that  it  is  not  yet  ?  how  do  you 
know  that  you  would  fail,  if  like  Nehemiah,  you 
should  say,  "  The  God  of  heaven  he  will  prosper  us ; 
therefore  we  his  servants  will  arise  and  build."  '  The 
Jews  shook  their  heads :  one  an.swered,  '  Nehemiah 
had  the  king's  licence  and  protection  ;  and  the  pro- 
clamation had  gone  forth :  but  we,  we  have  no  king's 
hand  stretched  out  to  our  rescue,  and  the  rescue  of 
our  city,  and  the  rescue  of  our  people  ;'  and  again  he 
took  up  the  strain, 

*'  On  account  of  the  Temple  which  is  destroyed," 

and  the  others  answered, 

"  We  sit  alone  and  weep." 

Da  Costa  now  spoke,  ^  If  a  man  of  zeal  and  courage, 

having  the  fear  of  God  and  the  love  of  Israel,  having 

also  the  heart  of  David,   and  the  sword   of  Gideon, 

were   to  arise,  saying  to  Jerusalem,  Thou   shalt  be 

built,  and  to  the   Temple,   Thy  foundation  shall  be 

laid — what  if  such  a  champion  came  forward,  and 

23* 


270 

called  upon  the  holy  people  to  aid  him  in  the  en- 
terprise V 

'  He  would  not  succeed,'  answered  the  old  men, 
sorrowfully :  '  our  enemies  are  many,  and  mighty, 
and  strong ;  cruel  lords  rule  over  us,  and  deliverance 
is  far  off;  and  the  champion  you  speak  of  would  die 
with  the  slain.' 

Alick  was  about  to  speak  again,  but  Da  Costa, 
seeing  some  military  guards  approach,  and  anxious  to 
spare  his  young  friend  the  further  pain  and  irritation 
of  witnessing  some  insult  or  injury  inflicted  on  the 
poor  Jews  for  outstaying  perhaps  their  precise  mo- 
ment, hastened  him  away.  As  they  walked  on,  he 
said,  ^"Terror  of  heart"  is  among  the  threatened 
punishments  to  be  poured  out  upon  our  people :  and 
in  this  instance  you  perceive  its  effect.  If  there  be 
a  place  under  heaven  where  the  Jew  must  feel  him- 
self a  Jew,  and  be  kindled  into  daring  thoughts,  and 
brood,  if  he  may  do  no  more,  over  imaginary  deeds 
of  rescuing  prowess,  surely  it  is  here,  in  the  midst  of 
Jerusalem,  under  the  very  walls  of  our  holy  Temple, 
over  which  gleams  the  impious  crescent  of  the  haughty 
Moslem!  while  the  driveUing  mummeries  of  those 
friarly  idolators  pollute  a  spot  by  them  deemed  more 
holy  than  the  Mahommedan  deems  his  mosque.  But 
you  see  how  it  is:  not  even  a  thought  of  daring  is 
kindled  here  in  the  bosom  of  fallen  Israel.' 

'  If  you  could  read  my  thoughts,  you  would  not 
say  so.' 

'  I  did  not  allude  to  you,  but  to  those  who,  dwelling 
in  the  very  place,  are  more  than  submissive  to  their 
own  and  their  city's  degradation.     They  feel,  perhaps 


^^;  JUDAH^S    LION.  271 

without  knowing  it,  what  I  know  without  always  feel- 
ing it,  that  the  blight  which  makes  barren  the  land 
of  Judea,  the  desolation  that  has  crumbled  these  frag- 
ments beneath  our  feet,  lies  heavily  on  the  minds  and 
spirits  of  her  children.  They  of  whom,  while  the 
Lord  was  their  God,  one  could  chase  a  thousand  and 
two  put  ten  thousand  to  flight,  now  experience  the 
bitter  reverse  "  at  the  rebuke  of  one  shall  ye  flee." 
As  it  was  spoken,  so  has  it  come  to  pass.' 

He  was  silent  for  a  moment,  then  resumed,  ^  I  never 
speak  thus  in  the  presence  of  a  Gentile,  Cohen  ;  neither 
would  I  now  so  damp  your  generous  enthusiasm  but 
to  show  you  the  hopeless  folly  of  looking  to  man.  I 
was  once  like  you ;  and  to  such  a  pitch  were  my  feel- 
ings roused,  that  I  almost  formed  a  plan  for  commenc- 
ing such  a  movement  as  you  dream  of;  but,  studying 
our  holy  law  for  the  record  of  Israel's  ancient  daring, 
I  too  plainly  saw  that  of  their  ancient  rebellion  ;  and 
tracing  the  history  of  our  nation,  looking  upon  the 
people  in  the  state  to  which  we  find  the  great  bulk  of 
them  reduced,  and  contrasting  our  present  devotion  to 
the  Holy  One  with  what  he  has  required  of  us,  I  be- 
came convinced  that  a  general  turning  unto  him  was 
needful  before  he  would  return  unto  us :  and  that  to 
seek  the  restored  possession  of  this  our  land  without 
the  Divine  presence,  which  made  it  the  glory  of  all 
lands,  would  be  to  render  our  fallen  condition  more 
miserably  conspicuous  than  it  has  ever  yet  been.' 

*  But  how  are  we  fallen,'  said  Alick,  ^  except  as  re- 
gards our  exile  and  dispersion,  a  return  from  which 
would  set  us  all  right  again  V 

'  What  I  mean  is  this  :  our  fathers  came  up  out  of 


272  judah's  lion. 

Egypt,  and  took  possession  ofthis  land,  driving  out  be- 
fore them  many  nations,  stronger  and  greater  than 
they :  aHke  in  their  first  settlement  here,  and  in  the 
rebuilding  ofthis  our  royal  city  after  the  Babylonish 
captivity,  the  Lord  wrought  with  our  fathers  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world,  so  that  they  bore  down  all  oppo- 
sition, and  became  a  terror  to  the  whole  earth.  This 
we  have  in  our  book,  which  forms,  as  you  know,  the 
Bible  of  the  Gentile  world,  and  every  child  is  conver- 
sant with  our  history  ;  and  the  Jews,  proceeding  once 
more  to  recover  possession  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  and 
to  re-establish  their  seat  of  government  in  Jerusalem, 
would  have  on  them  the  eyes  of  all,  from  the  throne 
and  senate  to  the  nursery.  Moreover,  against  us 
would  be  leagued  almost  all  nations;  and  nothing 
short  of  Almighty  aid  could  give  us  success.  Desti- 
tute of  such  aid  we  should  be  baffled,  defeated:  and 
mark  me,  Cohen  !  Israel's  defeat  would  not  be  mea- 
sured by  the  common  chances  of  war  ;  no,  it  would 
be  measured  by  our  own  stupendous  victories  of  other 
times ;  and  down,  down  to  the  very  depths  of  scorn 
should  we  sink,  annihilated  beneath  the  load  of  scoff- 
ing reproach !' 

*  But  are  we  not  to  be  restored  ?  Is  not  the  promise 
certain  T 

'  It  is  as  fixed  a  certainty  as  that  we,  even  Israel, 
once  possessed  this  spot  whereon  I  now  stamp  my 
foot ;  but  the  elements  of  such  a  restoration  are  not  in 
our  own  body  as  at  present  constituted.  God  must 
£rst  arise,  and  his  presence  must  go  before  us.  The 
standard  must  be  hoisted,  the  trumpet  must  be 
blown,  but  not  by  ourselves.     I  cannot  tell  you  how 


judah's  lion.  273 

my  inmost  soul  longs  for  him,  Messiah  Ben- David ; 
the  deliverer  of  my  people !' 

Alick  almost  started :  the  point  at  which  Da  Costa 
had  arrived  was  precisely  that  at  which  a  Christian 
would  have  met  him  with  the  gospel  of  salvation . 
and,  unaccustomed  to  disguise,  he  at  once  spoke  his 
thought — '  You  are  speaking  of  Israel's  sin  as  the 
cause  of  God's  prolonged  anger :  and  it  seems  to  me 
that  the  person  who  comes  to  deliver  us  must  be  able 
to  appease  that  anger  by  atoning  for  the  sin.  What 
atonement  will  Messiah  Ben-David  make  for  us, 
iniless  he  be,  as  the  Christians  assert,  a  divine  person, 
and  one  who  has  offered  a  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of  the 
people,  by  dying  for  them  V 

The  look  of  scrutiny  that  his  companion  fixed  on 
him  would  have  caused  many  an  eye  to  quail,  but 
Alick' s  changed  not:  he  endured  the  stern  gaze,  and 
then  repeated,  ^  How  do  you  explain  this  matter?' 

*  I  am  no  Rabbi,'  answered  Da  Costa,  '  to  solve 
subtle  questions  in  divinity :  yet  alas !  Israel  is  so 
fallen,  that  here,  here  in  Jerusalem  ;  here,  where  stood 
the  Temple  of  the  Lord,  filled  by  the  glory  of  the 
unapproachable  presence,  while  from  its  altars  as- 
cended the  flame  of  accepted  sacrifices,  and  amid  the 
breathings  of  sacred  incense  came  the  felt  voice  of  the 
Holy  One,  making  revelation  of  the  Eternal  will  to 
the  high  priest ; — here,  in  this  Jerusalem,  where  came 
the  princes  and  counsellors  of  other  lands  to  learn 
wisdom  at  the  lip  of  Israel's  king — here,  in  this  Jeru- 
salem, a  Jew,  as  by  sufferance  he  steals  along  the 
street,  may  propound  doctrines  subversive  of  our  holy 
religion, — questions,  the  very  uttering  of  which  is,  by 


274 

the  law  of  Moses,  punishable  with  death ;  and  find 
none  to  answer  him  !' 

^  You  mistake  me,'  answered  Ahck,  warmly  ;  *  my 
remark  implied  nothing  inconsistent  with  our  divine 
faith.' 

^  Pardon  me  ;  it  implied  the  assumed  possibility 
that  a  man  who,  on  this  very  ground' — and  he  stamped 
fiercely  as  he  said  it — ^  suffered  a  felon's  death,  may 
have  been  even  one  with  God  ;  may  be  an  object  of 
the  faith  and  the  worship,  and  the  service,  which  to 
render  to  a  created  being  is  most  damnable  idolatry.' 

*  There  lies  the  gist  of  the  matter,  Da  Costa :  ac 
cording  to  your  view,  Christianity  is  necessarily  idola- 
trous ;  but  according  to  theirs — and  they  ought  to 
know  best  what  they  themselves  believe — it  is  per- 
fectly consistent  with  our  doctrine  of  the  eternal  Unity. 
They  profess  not  only  to  found  their  system  on  our 
Scriptures,  but  to  reject  whatever  is  not  in  accordance 
with  them  ;  now,  as  reasonable  men,  why  should  we 
refuse  to  search  out  the  matter,  or  at  least  to  talk  it 
quietly  over  V 

'  I  will  tell  you  Avhy :  Moses  writes  thus,  concern- 
ing the  Gentile  forms  of  worship — "  Take  heed  to 
thyself  that  thou  be    not   snared  by  following  them 

and   that  thou  enquire  not   after  their  gods, 

saying.  How  rlid  these  nations  serve  their  gods? 
Even  so  will  I  do  likewise."  Now  your  plan  of  in- 
quiry militates  against  this  command.' 

'  No,'  remarked  Alick,  '  for  the  question  is  not  how 
do  the  Christians  serve  their  God,  but,  is  it  indeed 
God  whom  they  serve,  or  are  they  idolators?' 

Again  Da  Costa  bent  on  him  a  look  of  severe  scru- 


275 

tiny  ;  but  his  open  brow,  and  the  boyish  naivete  that 
marked  his  manner,  seemed  to  disarm  the  resentful 
Jew.  After  a  moment's  thought,  he  said,  '  Well,  this 
matter  may  rest  for  the  present ;  I  am  going  to  secure 
our  quarters  at  the  hospice  attached  to  the  Latin 
Convent.     That  being  done,' 

'  It  will  be  done  for  yourself  alone,'  interrupted 
Alick,  crimsoning  with  indignation.  '  Sooner  will  I 
rest  on  the  bare  soil,  or  pillow  my  head  like  our  father 
Jacob,  against  some  fragment  of  those  grey  stones, 
which  girdled  in  the  glorious  an^  beautiful  house  of 
God,  than  roll  in  the  downiest  bed  a  Gentile  could 
smooth  for  me  here  !  In  the  Jews'  quarter,  by  the 
Mount  Zion,  and  nowhere  else,  will  I  accept  a  lodg- 
ing: if  none  of  my  own  people  will  spare  me  a  shel- 
tered corner  under  their  roof,  then  the  canopy  of 
heaven  for  me !' 

'You  paradoxical  fellow!'  said  Da  Costa,  whose 
heart  bounded  to  hear  this  burst  of  nationality — '  how 
could  I  tell  that  you  preferred  mingling  your  drink 
with  weeping  among  the  heart-broken  children  of 
Israel,  to  sharing  the  comforts  of  a  well-furnished 
room  and  good  cheer  ?  Truth  to  speak,  I  meant  to 
see  you  well  accommodated,  as  an  English  traveller, 
and  to  steal  away  myself  to  the  Jewish  quarter.' 

'  Then  you  meditated  a  gross  insult,  and  a  very 
cruel  wrong  against  me,'  said  Alick,  in  a  more  intem- 
perate manner  than  he  had  ever  yet  spoken. 

'  Perhaps  so,  but  I  meant  it  for  the  best :  besides, 
he  added  slily,  '  how  could  I  surmise  that  you,  who 
appear  so  anxious  to  investigate  the  theology  of  the 


276  judah's  lion. 

Gentiles,  would  object  to  discussing  their  viands,  and 
becoming  acquainted  with  their  dormitories  V 

*  Oh,  don't  speak  so  hghtly.  Da  Costa.  Surely  this 
is  no  place  to  jest  on  the  advantages  enjoyed  by 
aliens  in  our  holy  city  !' 

'  No,  Cohen  ;  nor  to  apostatize  to  the  system  of  dis- 
graceful superstitions  and  delusions  which  they  call 
religion.  We'll  lodge  with  our  brethren,  and  forsake 
not  the  law  of  our  fathers,  whoever  wrests  away  their 
land,  and  usurps  their  place.' 

This  was  spoken  ^ith  abundance  of  fire  ;  and  at 
the  same  moment  he    changed   his   course,  adding, 

*  We  need  give  no  previous  intimation  of  our  visit : 
we  shall  be  well  received  by  my  friend.  Shall  we 
return  and  see  how  that  dear  Uttle  fellow  is  going 
on?' 

They  did  so ;  but  finding  that  Charley  was  in  a 
comfortable  sleep,  while  his  parents  were  eagerly  lis- 
tening to  the  recital  of  their  friend's  recent  adventures, 
they  made  but  a  short  stay,  and  again  salUed  forth 
into  the  streets  of  the  beloved  city. 

'  See,'  said  Da  Costa,  as  they  stepped  aside  to  avoid 
a  guard  of  the  swarthy  Eg}T)tian  garrison  just  passing, 

*  See  how  the  ancient  oppressors  of  our  people  again 
lord  it  over  us  ;  not  as  of  old  in  their  own  dominions, 
but  within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem !  Neither  is  it 
Egypt,  the  mightiest  of  kingdoms,  but  Egypt  in  the 
lowest  depth  of  degradation,  peopled  by  woman- 
hearted  poltroons — governed  by  a  revolted  slave.' 

'  Yet  there  are  promises  for  Egypt,'  observed  Alick. 
^  There  are  ;  and  the  time  draws  nigh  for  their  ful- 
filment.    I'm  glad  you  reminded  me  of  it:  "In  that 


27; 

day  shall  Israel  be  the  third  with  Egypt  and  with  As 
Syria,  even  a  blessing  in  the  midst  of  the  land,  whom 
the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  bless,  saying,  Blessed  be  Egypt 
my  people,  and  Assyria  the  work  of  my  hands,  and 
Israel  mine  inheritance."     The  time  is  near  !' 

It  was  now  evening,  and  the  sun's  last  beams  rested 
gloriously  on  the  brow  of  that  three -capped  hill  which 
spreads  its  broad  rampart  along  the  eastern  side  of 
the  city.  '  Look,'  said  Da  Costa,  '  at  the  Mount  of 
Olives ;  to-morrow  we  will  cross  that  deep  ravine,  the 
valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  of  which  I  may  almost  say  the 
very  soil  is  composed  of  the  dust  of  our  buried  tribes, 
and  we  will  ascend  the  hill,  where  David  went  up, 
weeping  as  he  went ;  and  from  its  height  we  will  take 
a  survey  of  our  own  city,  and  talk  of  what  yet  shall 
be,  when  the  Lord  ariseth  to  have  mercy  upon  his 
Zion !' 

AHck's  heart  swelled  with  emotions  for  which  he 
could  find  no  name.  Charley's  innocent  discourse,  so 
wise  in  its  baby  simplicity,  describing  the  Lord  Jesus 
weeping  over  his  stubborn  Jerusalem  from  that  spot, 
was  vividly  remembered  ;  and  the  argument  that  had 
followed  seemed  to  derive  additional  distinctness  from 
the  sight  of  that  sacred  hill.  In  silence  he  gazed 
upon  it,  during  a  momentary  pause  on  an  open  spot, 
and  then  again  they  plunged  into  the  narrow  streets 
that  led  to  their  destination,  flanked  on  either  side  by 
those  blank  but  stately  walls  which  lent  so  peculiar 
an  aspect  to  the  city.  A  heap  of  rubbish  next  lay  in 
their  path,  as  they  passed  along  the  slope  of  Zion, 
and   Alick,  with   downcast  eyes,  stept  as  softly  as 

24 


278  judah's  lion. 

though  he  were  treading  on  flowers  which  he  feared 
to  crush. 

*  You  are  unusually  silent,  Cohen/  said  Da  Costa 
at  last. 

'  I  never  in  my  life  felt  such  a  dreadful  depression 
of  spirits,'  answered  he,  with  difficulty  restraining  his 
tears.  *  I  cannot  describe  it  to  you :  my  heart  is 
weighed  down,  and  a  sort  of  dread  overshadows  me  ; 
my  very  thoughts  seem  spell-bound.  At  one  moment 
I  could  almost  say.  Take  me  hence  ;  but  the  prevail- 
ing desire  of  my  soul  is  never,  never  to  leave  this  spot 
again.  O  to  sit  down  in  the  dust,  the  dust  of  Zion ! 
O  for  liberty  to  weep  and  lament,  and  to  plead  with 
Him,  the  Holy  One,  for  pity;  pity  upon  his  own 
Jerusalem!'  and  leaning  over  a  heap  of  stones,  piled 
breast-high  in  his  path,  he  buried  his  face  in  his 
hands,  and  suffered  the  tears  to  flow. 

*  You  shall  have  your  fill  of  weeping  and  lamenta- 
tion,' said  Da  Costa,  in  a  voice  that  bespoke  him 
unusually  agitated,  '  but  not  here.  We  shall  pre- 
sently be  among  our  own  people.  Come  ;  I  hke  not 
to  linger  in  this  place.' 

'  Why  not?   Is  it  not  Mount  Zion  V 

'  Yes  ;  through  a  mistake  of  mine  in  taking  a  wrong 
turn,  we  are  on  the  acclivity  of  our  holy  mount,  and 
a  goodly  site  our  worthy  English  friends  have  chosen 
for  their  experimental  building.  These  things  are 
collected  for  the  erection  of  a  Gentile  church.' 

'  Jerusalem  is  full  of  them,'  said  Alick. 

*  Yes,  but  this  is  to  be  a  Protestant  one  :  a  rare 
novelty  to  be  sure !'  he  spoke  scornfully,  but  Alick 
exclaimed  '  Why  then  it  will  be  the  best  of  all.' 


279 

*  And  therefore  in  one  sense  the  worst ;  for  the  more 
attractively  error  arrays  itself,  the  more  dangerous.  It 
is  no  matter,'  he  added  haughtily  ;  '  let  them  build  ; 
the  time  is  near  when  every  abomination  shall  be 
swept  away,  and  the  pure  worship  of  the  God  of 
Israel  in  all  its  majestic  splendour  be  re-established 
here.' 

He  drew  Alick  away ;  and  descending  again,  they 
soon  reached  the  quarter  allotted  to  the  Jews,  in  the 
farther  part  of  which  they  entered  an  iron  door, 
placed  like  others  in  a  dead  wall,  and  found  them- 
selves in  a  tolerably  spacious  court  belonging  to  a 
substantial  house.  The  door  was  opened  at  Da 
Costa's  summons,  and  Alick  almost  drew  back  in 
surprise  at  the  scene  which  met  his  eye.      ^ 

The  apartment,  though  low,  was  of  good  dimen- 
sions ;  and  there,  ranged  along  the  sides,  on  hand- 
some though  plain  divans,  he  beheld  a  number  of 
females,  habited  in  the  oriental  costume,  unveiled, 
and  many  of  them  very  beautiful.  Their  apparel 
was  simple,  but  carefully  arranged,  in  one  or  two 
instances  only  approaching  to  richness.  The  rest  of 
the  party  consisted  of  the  most  imposingly  striking 
men  he  had  ever  seen  assembled.  Diversified  in 
dress,  the  high  black  cap  with  a  band  of  white  or  grey 
muslin  predominated,  intermixed  with  turbans  of 
yellow  ;  and  some  few  plain  skull  caps.  They  were 
remarkably  handsome,  of  noble,  erect  figures,  except 
where  bowed  by  age,  and  all  bearded.  All  were 
evidently  dressed  to  the  extent  of  their  means,  but 
poverty  was  apparent  in  many  instances.  The  cour- 
tesy, the   affectionate  warmth  of  their  simultaneous 


280 

greeting,  soon  dispelled  from  Alick's  mind  every 
feeling  save  that  of  sympathy :  and  the  familiar  tones 
of  the  sacred  language,  which  seemed  exclusively  to 
prevail,  fell  not  only  on  his  ear  but  his  heart.  He 
was  in  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  and  all  about  him  were 
Jews.  Da  Costa,  who  had  easily  acquainted  himself 
with  every  turn  in  the  youth's  ingenuous  character, 
had  calculated  on  the  effect  of  such  a  meeting  to 
counteract  influence  which  he  greatly  dreaded :  and 
their  present  host,  one  of  the  most  zealous,  if  not 
the  most  bigoted  of  his  race,  had  eagerly  entered 
into  his  design.  His  venerable  and  stately  appear- 
ance, as  he  laid  his  hands  on  Alick's  head,  and  pro- 
nouncing a  blessing^  filled  the  youth's  heart  with 
affectionate  awe  ;  an3  with  attention  keenly  awake,  he 
prepared  to  enjoy  that  evening's  important  privileges. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

The  company  assembled  at  the  house  of  Da  Costa's 
friend,  consisted  principally  of  Jews  who,  on  the  tem- 
porary overthrow  of  the  Turkish  power  in  those 
quarters,  had  flocked  to  the  Holy  City,  having  more 
reliance  on  the  friendly  disposition  of  Mohamet  Ali 
than  on  that  of  the  Sultan.  They  w^ere  in  far  better 
circumstances  than  their  resident  brethren,  whose 
poverty  wasso  great  as  to  render  them  dependent  on 
the  contributions  of  the  more  wealthy  for  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  and  whose  position  in  their  ancient  city 
forms  one  of  its  most  afflicting  features.  The  present 
party  seemed  under  the  impression  that  some  signal 
event  was  about  to  take  place,  some  very  important 
crisis  to  arrive  ;  and  although  they  bitterly  lamented 
their  dispersed,  depressed,  isolated  condition,  and 
complained  of  a  general  deadness  to  the  encourage- 
ments that  passing  events  held  out  to  their  nation, 
still  it  was  apparent  that  their  energies  were  in  a 
measure  roused,  and  their  hopes  excited.  Alick  heard 
more  of  the  Talmud  and  the  opinions  of  learned  men 
that  he  had  yet  done  ;  and  far  less  of  the  Scriptures 
of  God  than  he  wished  to  hear;  and  he  missed  that 
delightful  branch  of  the  subject  which  Charley  and 
his  mother  had  made  so  prominent,  the  blessing  that 
Israel   should   convey   to    Gentile    nations;    but  his 

24* 


282 

feelings  were  deeply  interested,  and  gratified  too, 
when,  looking  round  on  the  company  of  Hebrew  men, 
of  mothers  in  Israel,  and  gentle  Jewish  maidens,  he 
traced  the  high  descent,  and  higher  destiny  of  his 
people  ;  and  recollected  that  howsoever  comparatively 
depressed  and  obscure,  still  they  were  met,  without 
hindrance,  and  with  no  cause  for  apprehension,  in 
Jerusalem ;  and  contrasting  such  privileges  with  the 
stern  edicts  against  them  for  many  and  many  an  age, 
his  soul  welcomed  the  dawning  streak  of  their  coming 
day — a  day  of  prosperity,  triumph,  and  peace. 

After  a  while,  a  feeling  remark  of  Da  Costa's  led 
the  conversation  to  the  indulgence  so  graciously  ac- 
corded by  the  infidel  lords  of  Jerusalem  to  her  original 
race,  of  frequenting  the  ruined  corner;  and  Alick 
asked  whether  it  was  really  a  fragment  of  the  ancient 
city.  He  remembered  not  only  the  prophet's  declara- 
tion that  Zion  should  be  ploughed  as  a  field,  but  also 
that  of  One  whom  he  would  not  then  have  named, 
who  had  said,  that  of  the  great  buildings  of  the  Tem- 
ple not  one  stone  should  be  left  on  another ;  and  he 
strove  to  wish  that  the  word  of  Jesus  might  not  have 
come  to  pass.  He  was  answered  by  an  old  man,  who 
told  him  that  the  wall  in  question  had  formed  part  of 
the  outer  enclosure,  bej^ond  the  court  of  the  Gentiles, 
and  of  course  considerably  exterior  to  all  that  per- 
tained to  the  Temple.  '  The  Holy  One,  (blessed  be 
He  !)  did  not  sufier  any  portion  of  that  sacred  building 
to  remain  for  the  heathen  to  pollute,'  said  the  aged 
Jew ;  '  Their  abomination  stands  indeed  upon  the 
spot,  marking  the  site  where  we  again  shall  rebuild 
the  Temple,  after  many  purifications  from  its  present 


judah's  lion.  283 

defilement ;  but  not  a  stone  of  our  holy  and  beautiful 
house  have  the  hands  of  the  accursed  been  permitted 
to  grasp.  Yea,  the  magnificent  stones  were  ground 
into  dust,  by  the  merciful  severity  of  the  Most  High, 
to  preserve  them  from  the  dishonour  of  helping  to  con- 
struct a  house  of  Belial.' 

^  Then  He  spoke  truly,'  thought  Alick  ;  '  and  it  was 
a  daring  prediction  for  uninspired  man  to  utter,  seeing 
how  desirable  to  the  conqueror  must  have  been  the 
preservation  of  so  noble,  so  unrivalled  an  edifice. 
Was  he  not  a  prophet  V  and  the  question  so  entirely 
occupied  his  mind,  that  he  lost  a  good  deal  of  the  con- 
versation which  ensued,  until  the  name  of  a  mission- 
ary, of  whom  he  had  often  heard  Captain  Ryan  speak, 
caught  his  ear,  and  he  listened  eagerly,  '  I  went  to  his 
room,'  said  one  of  the  party,  '  and  would  have  disputed 
with  him,  but  we  could  find  no  common  ground  to 
stand  on.  I  brought  to  my  aid  tUe  learned  commen- 
taries of  our  chief  Rabbins, — blessed  be  their  memo- 
ries !  but  he  insisted  on  Scripture  alone  as  the  arbiter 
in  all  doubtful  matters,  and  after  various  meetings  we 
found  it  useless  to  proceed.' 

'  Even  without  the  commentaries  of  the  learned, 
you  might  have  silenced  him,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 

'  No :  for  there  are  mysteries  that  require  explain- 
ing, and  he  would  shew  them  to  be  unravelled  by  the 
doctrine  of  the  crucified  Nazarene.  How  could  I 
meet  him  but  with  the  explanations  given  by  our  wise 
men?  How  could  I  know  the  mind  of  Him  who 
wrote,  save  by  the  interpretation  of  those  who  were 
inspired  with  understanding  to  discover  it?' 

The  rest  assented ;  and  several  being  present  who 


284 

were  teachers,  together  with  many  learners  of  the 
Talmud,  a  discourse  ensued  on  the  various  significa- 
tions given  by  ancient  doctors  to  some  passages,  ap- 
parently too  clear  to  require  any  comment ;  some  of 
whose  views  were  so  absurd,  their  remarks  so  childish, 
and  their  observances  thereupon  so  exceedingly  vain 
and  superstitious,  that  Alick  was  no  less  mortified 
than  amazed  at  hearing  them  descanted  on  as  master- 
pieces of  super-human  wisdom.  He  became  tired, 
and  almost  irritated  at  the  endless  mysticisms  he  was 
compelled  to  listen  to,  and  longed  for  a  place  beside 
some  of  the  unassuming  females  of  the  party  ;  but 
such  a  move  he  did  not  venture  to  make,  being  seated 
in  the  midst  of  the  learned  speakers,  to  whom  he  felt 
bound  to  pay  every  respect.  Turning  his  head,  how- 
ever, he  beheld,  a  little  in  the  rear,  one  of  the  old  men 
he  had  seen  at  the  place  of  wailing,  who  was  quietly 
perusing  his  book,  half  concealed  in  the  folds  of  his 
robe ;  and  whose  countenance,  mild,  sorrowful  and 
humble,  attracted  him.  An  opportunity  occurring  to 
fall  back  a  little,  Ahck  soon  contrived  to  be  on  a  fine 
with  this  aged  Jew,  and  sufficiently  apart  from  the 
rest  to  converse  unnoticed.  The  other,  aware  of  his 
approach,  and  of  the  wistful  look  with  which  he  eyed 
him,  spoke  not,  but  quietly  offered  a  share  in  his  book, 
which  Alick  most  gratefully  accepted,  and  drawing 
closer  to  the  old  man,  read  with  him  the  remainder 
of  the  hundred  and  thirty-sixth  Psalm,  after  which 
they  commenced  the  one  following.  "  By  the  rivers 
of  Babylon  there  we  sat  down ;  yea,  we  wept,  when 
we  remembered  Zion."  The  old  Hebrew's  heavy 
sighs  went  to  Alick' s  heart,  and  when  he  saw  a  tear 


285 

fall  on  the  white  beard,  and  heard  the  low  murmur 
of  his  tremulous  voice,  he  felt  that  he  had  at  length, 
so  to  speak,  found  his  level.  He  accompanied  him 
in  every  word  ;  and  coming  to  the  verse,  "  If  I  forget 
thee,  O  Jerusalem,  let  my  right  hand  forget," — the 
youth  uttered  it  with  such  fervent  emphasis,  at  the 
same  time  involuntarily  raising  his  hand,  that  his  com- 
panion looked  at  him,  and  with  corresponding  fervour 
recited  the  next  words,  "  If  I  do  not  remember  thee, 
let  my  tongue  cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth ;  if  I 
prefer  not  Jerusalem  above  my  chief  joy."  When 
they  had  completed  the  portion,  Alick  whispered, 
'  Who  is  the  daughter  of  Babylon  V 

'  Rome,'  was  the  answer. 

'  Our  ancient  enemy,'  rejoined  Alick;  '  the  destroyer 
of  our  Temple,  the  overthrower  of  our  city,  the  mur- 
derer of  our  fathers.' 

'  Ay,  youth,  and  of  their  sons ;  the  greatest  perse- 
cutor of  our  race  from  the  day  she  first  polluted  this 
soil  with  her  foot,  even  to  the  present  hour.' 

'  Happily  she  has  no  footing  here  just  now,'  said 
Ahck. 

'  She  has  her  agents  even  here,  and  her  crafty 
counsels  influence  the  springs  of  government,  oppo- 
sing the  liberal  projects  of  other  states,  and  carrying 
forward  her  own  device  of  universal  empire,  of  which 
she  longs  to  make  this,  our  Jerusalem,  the  eastern 
metropohs.' 

'  But  she  never  shall,'  said  Alick ;  *  far  rather  would 
I  that  it  remained  under  its  present  masters  till  Mes- 
siah come,  whose  right  it  is,  than  that  Rome  held  it, 
even  though  it  were  to  my  personal  advantage.' 


:*;^. 


386  jubah's  lion.   %. 

*  No  Jew  could  be  advantaged  by  that,'  remarked 
his  companion  ;  '  not  one  of  our  nation  would  ever  set 
foot  within  the  gates,  if  Rome  held  the  key.  Our 
present  privileges  are  not  great,'  he  added  with  a  sor- 
rowful smile,  in  which  resignation  seemed  to  strive 
against  more  acute  feelings,  *  but  they  are  privileges 
To  sojourn  unmolested  where  stood  the  palaces  of  my 
race,  to  weep  unrestrained  beside  the  last  decaying 
fragment  of  our  glorious  bulwarks,  and  to  lay  my  bones 
where  rest  the  bones  of  the  prophets  and  the  mighty 
men  of  Israel — these  are  blessings  ;  and  yet  a  greater 
blessing  is  there  in  the  uninterrupted  study  of  this  book 
of  the  law,  and  in  tracing  out,  by  the  light  of  prophecy, 
amid  the  now  polluted  ruins  of  Jerusalem,  the  gran- 
deur and  the  beauty  and  the  magnificent  array  in 
which  she  shall  arise,  when  the  call  comes  to  shake 
the  dust  from  her  garments  and  to  sit  down — no  longer 
upon  the  ground,  but  upon  the  throne  which  God  has 
prepared  for  her,  and  which  no  other  shall  occupy.' 

As  the  old  man  spoke,  his  eye  kindled,  his  cheek 
glowed,  and  his  voice  became  exceedingly  impressive. 
A  pause  just  then  occurring  among  the  other  speak- 
ers, his  words  caught  their  attention,  and  such  a 
response  was  uttered  by  many,  in  the  various  accents 
of  prayer,  of  praise,  and  of  confident  assertion,  as 
made  Alick's  heart  leap  within  him.  Unable  to  con- 
trol his  feelings  he  sprung  from  his  seat,  and  exclaimed, 
*  Is  this  Jerusalem  ?  Are  such  the  promises  of  our  f 
God  concerning  her  ?  Do  we  believe  those  promises  ? 
And  are  we  never  to  stretch  forth  a  hand  to  grasp  the 
glorious  realities  on  which  our  eyes  are  fixed?  Men 
of  Israel,  have  ye  forgotten  the  word  that  came,  even 


#° 


dah's  lion.  287 

by  the  mouth  of  the  impious  Balaam,  testifying  what 
the  Lion  of  Judah  should  achieve  ?  and  must  that 
kingly  Lion  for  ever  lie  prostrate  in  the  dust,  while 
his  enemies  exult,  and  they  who  know  his  power 
marvel  at  his  quietude  V 

The  astonishment  excited  by  this  burst  of  enthu- 
siasm was  great.  Several  seemed  thoroughly  roused 
by  it ;  and  some  looked  on  the  young  pleader  with 
feelings  not  unmixed  with  awe,  as  though  a  message 
had  suddenly  been  delivered  to  them  from  a  higher 
source.  They  were  upon  the  spot  where  such  com- 
munications were  often  of  old  made  to  their  fathers ; 
and  they  gazed  on  him  as  if  expecting  a  further 
manifestation  of  something  wonderful.  The  old  Jew 
had  also  arisen  and  stood  behind  him,  his  thin  hand 
resting  on  Alick's  shoulder,  and  his  mild  eye  lighted 
up  with  an  expression  of  paternal  tenderness,  and 
holy  exultation :  Alick  had  spoken  in  Hebrew,  which 
all  understood,  and  used ;  and  while  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  his  abrupt  address  was  gradually  subsiding 
into  the  expression  of  different  opinions  among  the 
company,  another  aged  man  addressed  his  friend, 
saying  in  German,  ^  Is  he  not  the  counterpart  of  your 
lost  son,  Wilhelm  V 

Alick  caught  the  last  word,  and  at  the  same  time 
saw  Da  Costa  start ;  but  he  could  not  comprehend 
the  language,  and  just  then  some  one  addressed  to 
him  an  enquiry  as  to  his  object  in  making  so  unex- 
pected an  appeal  to  their  strongest  feelings.  Alick 
frankly  answered  that  he  had  no  other  object  than 
that  of  recommending  to  his  brethren  a  more  practi- 
cal application  of  what  their  own  prophets  had  writ- 


288  judah's  lion. 

ten  ;  that  he  was  persuaded  the  day  of  IsraePs  re- 
demption could  not  be  far  distant,  but  he  saw  no  fruit 
of  such  a  conviction  on  the  minds  of  others  ;  and  that 
to  be  content  with  the  position  which  they  now  held 
in  their  own  city  appeared  to  liim  like  the  despising 
of  good  things  promised  by  the  Lord.  Abashed  as 
he  really  felt  at  having  been  led  to  make  himself  so 
conspicuous  in  a  party  where  he  was  probably  the 
youngest  present,  he  resolved  not  to  retreat,  but  to 
follow  up,  so  far  as  he  might,  the  advantage  of  having 
given  a  new  turn  to  the  conversation,  and  one  far  bet- 
ter suited  to  such  a  company  than  the  dreams  of  the 
Talmud.  He  was  weary,  too,  of  the  names  of  Rabbi 
Solomon  Jarchi,  Rabbi  Kimchi,  Maimonides,  Aben- 
Ezra  ;  and  longed  to  hear  somewhat  of  Nehemiah 
the  rebuilder ;  or  of  Zachariah,  and  the  rest  of  those 
holy  men,  who  by  the  inspiration  of  God  had  declared 
his  purposes  towards  his  own  people.  Alick  had, 
moreover,  detected  some  very  startling  things  as  form- 
ing part  of  the  system  which  his  brethren  considered 
to  be  pure  Judaism ;  he  heard  from  one  stern-looking 
Rabbinical  teacher  a  sentiment  involving  the  doctrine 
that  all  Gentile  people  were  to  be  converted  by  the 
edge  of  the  sword  to  their  faith  ;  from  another  he 
heard  a  remark  plainly  indicating  that  Christians 
were  not  to  be  regarded  as  neighbours,  nor  treated 
like  fellow-men  ;  and,  what  confounded  him  not  a  lit- 
tle, that  he  was  liable  to  the  most  severe  punishment 
for  eating  food  prepared  by  Gentile  hands,  and  par- 
taken of  by  Gentiles.  His  father  had  always  been 
extremely  lax  on  this  head  ;  and  Alick  had  paid  so 
little  regard  to  the  opinions  or  customs  of  his  peculiar 


judah's  lion.  289 

people,  that  he  had  looked  on  Ben-Melchor  as  an  ex- 
traordinary specimen  of  exclusiveness,  not  as  a  fair 
sample  of  what  a  Jew  would  consider  it  right  to  he, 
in  point  of  ceremonial  distinction.  Among  many- 
passing  thoughts,  he  wondered  that  Da  Costa  had 
never  spoken  to  him  on  the  subject  of  that  separation 
which  it  struck  him  he  had  himself  always  practised ; 
for  he  was  aware,  though  he  had  not  before  remarked 
it  otherwise  than  as  accidental,  that  he  had  never  ac- 
tually partaken  with  them  in  any  meal  at  Jaffa,  or  on 
the  road.  Could  he  regard  these  observances  as  bind- 
ing on  a  Hebrew,  and  yet  permit  him  daily  to  trans- 
gress without  a  warning  word  7 

Towards  the  close  of  the  evening,  Alick  missed 
from  the  party  both  Da  Costa  and  the  German :  the 
former  only  returned,  and  his  excited  appearance,  his 
flashing  eye,  the  restless  motion,  the  evident  abstrac- 
tion of  his  mind,  struck  Alick.  The  party  soon  after 
separated,  and  Da  Costa,  taking  Alick' s  arm,  led  him 
forth  to  the  highest  part  of  Mount  Zion  towards  the 
East,  w^hence  they  looked  out  upon  the  Mount  of 
Olives.  Neither  had  spoken  :  Da  Costa  was  still  la- 
bouring under  strong  emotion  ;  and  his  young  friend, 
who  began  to  feel  some  fatigue  of  body  added  to  his 
mental  excitement,  resolved  to  let  him  take  the  lead. 
Having  reached  a  ruined  quadrangle,  the  remains  of 
a  small  house,  and  seated  himself  on  a  low  wall,  mo- 
tioning to  Alick  to  do  the  same.  Da  Costa  com- 
menced :  ^  Cohen,  the  time  is  come,  and  come  some- 
what sooner  than  I  anticipated,  for  entering  upon 
explanations  of  immense  moment  to  you.  I  could 
have  wished  to  defer  this ;  I  wished  to  conduct  you 

25 


690  jcdah's  lion. 

over  all  the  ruins  of  this  city  of  Our  God,  to  point  out 
every  sacred  spot  to  which  the  proscribed  Jew  may 
approach  ;  to  lead  you  to  the  sepulchres  of  our  kings, 
the  burying-places  of  our  fathers.  I  desired  to  famil- 
iarize you  with  every  touching  wreck  of  our  beloved, 
our  dishonoured  Jerusalem,  groaning  as  they  are  un- 
der the  gaudy  temples  of  the  Moslem  and  the  Naza- 
rene  ;  and  then  I  would  have  shewn  you  the  interior 
of  some  of  those  execrable  dens  of  idolatry  where  the 
latter  carry  on  their  abominable  worship,  addressed  to 
images  which  their  own  hands  have  made.  I  purposed 
placing  before  you  Zion  in  her  deepest  desolation, 
Gentilism  in  its  proudest  triumph,  and  then  appealing 
to  your  heart  and  conscience  as  to  which  party  might 
claim  you  a  disciple.' 

'  No  such  preparation  was  needed.  Da  Costa,  the 
faith  of  my  fathers  is  dearer  to  me  than  my  life  ;  the 
hateful  idolatries  to  which  you  allude  ' . 

^  Nay,  hear  me  out.  The  plan  so  thoughtfully 
framed  has  been  wholly  disconcerted  by  the  unex- 
pected recognition  amongst  this  night's  party,  of  poor 
Wilhelm's  father  ;  and  the  discovery  of  a  clue  that  I 
must  immediately  follow  up,  or  the  sole  chance  of 
tracing  and  of  rescuing  him  may  be  for  ever  lost.  This 
compels  me  to  come  to  an  abrupt  and  premature  dis- 
closure of  matters  that  concern  you  most  nearly ;  for 
dear  as  Wilhelm,  my  long  and  loved  companion  is  to 
me,  I  cannot  sacrifice  you,  Cohen,  the  acquaintance 
of  a  day,  even  to  save  him.  But  time  is  so  precious, 
the  space  allowed  me  so  brief,  that  I  must  without 
further  delay  proceed  to  execute  my  mission.  Stand 
up,  Cohen,  and  here  in  the  presence  of  the  God  of 


judah's  lion.  291 

Israel,  who  shall  judge  between  us,  answer  me,  are 
you  a  Christian  ?' 

^  I  am  not ;'  answered  Alick,  firmly. 

'  What  then  are  you  V 

'  A  son  of  Abraham,  by  descent ;  a  Jew  in  blood, 
in  heart,  in  soul,  and  in  profession.  A  Jew,  in  the 
thoughtless  days  of  boyhood,  in  free,  happy  England : 
tenfold  a  Jew  here,  surrounded  by  the  crumbling  stones 
of  Jerusalem.' 

^  My  dear  lad,  you  are  a  Jew  by  birth  and  name, 
and  a  Jew  in  sentiment,  but  there  is,  whether  you  be 
conscious  of  it  or  not,  a  halting  between  two  opinions, 
wholly  inconsistent  with  the  profession  you  make. 
Why,  you  do  not  even  observe  the  law  of  Moses  in 
the  matter  of  meats,  of  fasting,  of  purification — in 
short,  you  are  a  Gentile  to  all  outward  appearance  ; 
and  not  a  little  in  feeling  and  opinion.' 

Alick  was  hurt :  '  you  very  well  know  that  my  father 
always  looked  forward  to  my  enjoying  political  privi- 
leges in  England,  and  brought  me  up  with  as  little 
distinction  as  possible  between  me  and  my  Gentile 
schoolmates  and  compeers.  If  you  thought  me  wrong, 
why  did  you  not  reprove  me  at  once  ?' 

'  Let  that  pass;  and  speak  only  of  the  future.  Is  it 
your  purpose  to  continue  this  line  of  conduct,  wound- 
ing your  people,  your  religion,  your  own  soul,  by  such 
glaring  inconsistency  V 

'  I  am  quite  ready  to  conform  in  every  particular  to 
the  law  of  Moses,  and  you  cannot  prescribe  anything 
so  strict  that  I  shall  not  esteem  it  an  honour,  a  privi- 
lege, a  rich  blessing  to  practise  it.' 

'  And  a  matter  of  salvation,'  added  Da  Costa. 


292 

Alick  was  silent.  A  new  train  of  thoughts  arose  in 
his  mind,  but  his  companion  did  not  allow  him  to  re- 
flect :  he  rapidly  proceeded,  '  The  moments  are  so 
precious  that  we  may  not  pause  on  a  word.  I  must 
remind  you  that  the  sacred  duties  you  declare  yourself 
willing  to  fulfil,  cannot  be  fulfilled  under  your  existing 
connexion  with  the  Ryans.* 

Alick' s  colour  rose  ;  '  They  both  can  and  shall,  and 
they  must !  for  my  father  has  placed  me  under  Cap- 
tain Ryan's  care,  and  you  will  not  persuade  me  that 
disobedience  to  parents  forms  any  part  of  the  law  of 
Moses.' 

^  Suppose  for  a  moment  that  no  such  arrangement 
had  ever  been  made  ;  what  then  would  you  say  ? 

*  Time  being  so  precious  we  had  better  not  waste 
it  in  idle  hypotheses,'  answered  Alick,  somewhat  drily.' 

Da  Costa  seemed  perplexed:  '  Yet,  Cohen,  indulge 
me  thus  far :  did  no  such  obligation  exist,  and  were  you 
perfectly  satisfied  that  living  and  travelling  with  Chris- 
tians, uninstructed  too  as  you  are  in  all  the  re- 
quirements of  our  holy  law,  you  must  daily,  hourly 
transgress  it,  would  you  prefer  the  gratification  of  a 
natural  liking  for  some  agreeable  strangers  to  the  stern 
duty  of  glorifying  the  God  of  Israel  by  obedience  to 
his  commands  V 

*  No,  Da  Costa ;  in  that  case  I  should  be  enabled 
to  sacrifice  all  private  feelings,  and  withdraw  from 
society  most  dear  and  precious  to  me.  I  would,  in 
that  case,  accompany  you  in  your  search  for  Wilhelm, 
share  your  dangers,  and  in  every  particular  learn  strict 
conformity  to  our  holy  law.  Even  as  it  is,  I  solemnly 
pledge  my  word  to  you  that  I  will  live  as  strict  a  Jew, 


.f      judah's  lion.  293 

be  the  difficulty  what  it  may,  as  your  heart  can  desire. 
Only  tell  me  how  to  act,  and  doubt  not  my  resolve  to 
exhibit  in  all  its  features  the  character  of  our  divine 
faith.' 

Da  Costa  caught  his  hand,  and  exclaimed,  ^  Dear 
Cohen  !  noble  young  Israelite !  how  thankful  I  am 
that  I  read  aright  your  character,  and  permitted  your 
own  honest  feeling  to  mark  out  for  you  the  path  into 
which  I  had  power  to  force  you !  Don't  speak — lis- 
ten. You  remember  Ben-Melchor  ?  As  strict  a  de- 
votee as  can  be  imagined,  he  is  moreover  extremely 
fond  of  reporting  all  who  come  short  of  the  standard  ; 
and  your  case  was  laid  before  some,  high  in  authority, 
of  which  the  world  knows  little.  The  report  preceded 
you  to  Jaffa:  I  was  employed  to  remonstrate  with 
your  father,  and  I  did  so.  It  is  unnecessary  to  repeat 
all  that  passed  :  a  long  consultation  was  held  with  him 
by  some  of  our  leading  men,  and  the  result  was  this,' 
— he  drew  a  paper  from  his  bosom — '  your  father's 
distinct  permission  for  your  removal  from  under  Cap- 
tain Ryan's  care,  to  whom  I  also  bear  a  letter  of  thanks 
and  full  explanation;  and  should  any  resistance  be 
offered  by  you,  then  an  appeal  to  the  Chief  Rabbi 
here  in  Jerusalem  would  have  been  resorted  to  ;  and 
you  must  have  answered  for  your  faith,  either  submit" 
ting  to  his  authority  or  apostatizing.  Now,  I  did  not 
particularly  relish  the  agency  in  such  a  matter :  but  I 
took  a  special  liking  to  you  from  our  first  interview, 
and  I  likewise  felt  no  slight  share  of  good-will  towards 
that  nice  fellow  Ryan,  apart  from  his  meddlesome 
ways.  I  confess  too  that  my  heart  was  fairly  won  by 
the  child ;  and  the  deep  feehng  they  all  evince  for  us 


294  judah's  lion. 

nationally ;  which  I  never  before  knew  any  of  the 
Jew-converting  gentry  to  entertain  ;  nor  even  to  re- 
cognise our  nation,  except  so  far  as  they  could  fix  the 
taunting  accusation  of  being  a  scorn  and  a  curse. 
Well,  I  resolved  to  act  tenderly  by  all  parties  ;  and  I 
should  have  approached  very  gradually  to  this  point, 
but  for  the  meeting  with  poor  old  Wilhelm,  whose 
grief  for  his  son,  and  emotion  on  discovering  in  me  the 
companion  of  his  travels,  and  the  sworn  avenger  of 
his  wrongs,  spurred  me  on  to  this  rude  disclosure.  So 
now,  Cohen,  what  say  you?' 

'  I  will  go  with  you ;'  answered  Alick,  after  a  severe 
stniggle  ;  *  but  had  you  proceeded  less  kindly  and 
generously,  I  would  not  have  yielded — would  not 
have  left  my  poor  friends  in  their  affliction — they 
who,  to  gratify  me,  changed  the  course  of  their  travels, 
and  sacrificed  their  darling  child.'  He  was  unable 
to  proceed. 

'  Be  comforted,  Alick.  I  mean  to  make  a  frank 
statement  to  Captain  Ryan,  and  sure  I  am  that  his 
own  honourable  spirit  will  dictate  a  ready  acquies- 
cence in  our  plans.  We  will  repair  to  him  as  early 
as  possible  ;  and  while  you  sit  with  Charley  and  his 
mother,  we  will  talk  it  over.  At  present  you  must  get 
some  rest' 

They  descended  the  Mount,  and  Alick  soon  found 
himself  again  in  the  Jews'  quarter.  Very  little  sleep 
did  he  enjoy,  his  mind  was  so  bewildered  by  the  new 
and  strange  position  in  which  he  found  himself;  but 
the  image  of  the  meek  old  Israelite  who  had  espe- 
cially interested  him  from  the  first,  the  hope  of  restor- 
ing to  him  his  lost  son,  and  that  love  of  adventure 


^ 


JUDAH^S    LION.  295 

natural  to  his  age  and  character,  almost  counterpoised 
his  bitter  regrets  concerning  the  Ryans.  The  thought 
of  becoming  a  stricter  Jew  delighted  him,  and  he  was 
resolved  to  hold  Da  Costa  to  his  engagement  for  the 
daily  reading  of  God's  word,  with  a  minute  investiga- 
tion of  the  New  Testament.  Early  in  the  morning 
they  repaired  to  the  Missionary's  house,  and  learned 
with  joy  that  little  Charley  was  very  materially  better. 
They  were  admitted  to  the  apartment  where  he  lay 
pale,  but  full  of  animation,  his  face  turned  in  the 
direction  of  a  small  latticed  window,  through  which 
was  seen  the  graceful  slope  of  the  Mount  of  Olives. 
He  returned  the  caresses  of  his  friends,  and  then, 
eagerly  pointing  to  the  lattice,  exclaimed  '  Look,  Mr. 
Alick:  there's  the  place  where  the  Lord  Jesus  used 
to  go  and  pray,  and  to  teach  the  people:  there's 
where  he  wept  over  Jerusalem:  there's  where  he 
came  down,  meek  and  lowly,  and  having  salvation : 
and  riding  upon  an  ass,  and  a  colt  the  foal  of  an  ass. 
There's  where  he  sweat  blood  for  us  ;  and  where  he 
was  betrayed  and  taken  with  swords  and  staves :  and 
there's  where  he  shall  be  again,  for  "  His  feet  shall 
stand  on  the  Mount  of  Olives,"  when  He  comes  to 
destroy  his  enemies,  and  to  reign  over  the  whole 
earth.' 

'  You  seem  quite  alive,  Charley,'  said  Da  Costa. 

^  Yes,  Mr.  Dockster ;  looking  at  the  Mount  of 
OUves  makes  me  alive.  Mamma  says,  if  I  go  on  so 
w^ell  I  shall  soon  be  able  to  go  with  you  all  through 
the  place.  How  nice  it  will  be  !  You  will  show  me 
where  David  lived,  and  where  he  is  buried ;  and 
where   Solomon    built   the  Temple,  and  Neheraiah 


296 

built  the  walls  up.  Did'nt  I  tell  you  I  should  get 
better  at  Jerusalem?  But  why  do  you  look  so  sad, 
Mr.  Allck?  Ohj  it's  that  you  are  sorry  because  Jeru- 
salem is  taken  away  from  the  Jews :  but  never  fear, 
when  Messiah  comes,  he  will  give  it  you  again,  and 
he  will  be  your  God,  and  you  shall  be  his  people.' 

He  looked  fondly  at  Alick,  whose  dejection  seemed 
to  increase,  and  putting  his  little  arm  about  his  neck, 
said,  'I  do  be  sorry  to  see  you  look  unhappy :  but 
the  Lord  Jesus  will  comfort  you.  Don't  you  remem- 
ber, at  Ramah,  the  priest  said  I  should  die  ?  Well, 
it  made  me  a  little  afraid,  and  I  was  very  sorry  to 
leave  Papa  and  Mamma,  and  you  darling  Jews ;  and 
I  was  afraid  because  of  all  my  sins  and  naughtiness 
to  go  and  stand  before  God :  he  is  so  great  and  ter- 
rible !  But  then  I  thought  of  the  verse  "  The  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  from  all  sin,"  and 
it  did  comfort  me  so!  and  I  was  not  afraid  then. 
Oh,  if  you  would  but  love  him,  you  would  never  be 
very  sorry,  and  you  would  never  be  at  all  afraid.^ 
He  looked  again  to  the  window  and  repeated,  '^  As 
the  hills  stand  about  Jerusalem,  so  standeth  the  Lord 
about  his  people." 

'  Captain  Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa,  '  I  want  to  have  a 
few  minutes  conversation  with  you ;  can  you  spare 
the  time  now?' 

'  Willingly,  I  hope  we  shall  pass  the  whole  day 
together ;  and  I  am  at  your  service.' 

They  went  out:  Alick's  heart  beat  most  painfully, 
and  Mrs.  Ryan  affectionately  inquired  if  he  was  not 
well :  '  He  is  sorry,'  said  Charley,  *  I  know  that.     Mr. 


297 

Alick  you  shall  read  to  me,  please  do ;  I  want  you  to 
read  to  me  the  twelfth  of  the  Hebrews.' 

Alick  did  so,  and  he  felt  the  power  of  that  exqui- 
site portion  more,  perhaps,  than  he  had  ever  felt  any 
part  of  the  New  Testament.  Charley's  innocent  but 
appropriate  remarks  pointing  more  forcibly  his  atten- 
tion. He  then  answered  various  questions  of  the 
child  and  his  mother,  as  to  what  he  had  already  seen, 
and  tried  to  smile,  when  Charley  talked  of  the  plea- 
sant walks  they  should  take,  adding,  '  I  think  I  shall 
soon  get  well,  now  I  am  in  Jerusalem,  and  you  will 
be  talkmg  to  me  all  day  long  about  the  beautiful 
places,  till  I  can  see  them  myself 

At  length  the  two  gentlemen  returned ;  Captain 
Ryan's  countenance  bespoke  displeasure  ;  Da  Costa 
looked  proud  and  high :  and  Alick  with  some  trepi- 
dation obeyed  a  summons  presently  given  to  with- 
draw with  them  into  another  room. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

*  Now  Cohen,'  said  Da  Costa,  as  soon  as  they  were 
alone,  *  have  the  kindness  to  repeat  to  Captain  Ryan 
what  you  understand  to  have  been  my  share  in  this 
business.' 

'  There  is  no  need  of  it :'  said  the  Captain.  *  I  am 
satisfied  that  you  have  acted  as  fairly  as  the  circum- 
stances would  admit :  but  having  accepted,  and  so  far 
faithfully  discharged  a  sacred  trust,  I  cannot  at  a 
moment's  notice  relinquish  it,  without  ascertaining 
the  mind  of  my  young  friend.' 

^  My  mind  is  soon  spoken,'  said  Alick.  '  The  first 
wish  of  my  heart  would  be  to  remain  as  I  am,  enjoy- 
ing this  affectionate  intercourse  with  you  both  ;  but 
since  it  appears  that  I  have,  with  the  rest  of  my 
family,  been  remiss  in  keeping  the  commandments  of 
God,  as  delivered  to  my  fathers,  and  as  fulfilled  here 
in  Jerusalem,  through  successive  ages,  I  am  desirous 
to  repair  that  omission,  and  to  observe  the  law,  to  its 
extreme  letter,  in  all  the  strictness  of  uncontaminated, 
undiluted  Judaism.  This,  it  seems,  I  cannot  do,  at 
present,  through  ignorance  and  inexperience,  while 
associating,  in  domestic  life,  exclusively  with  Gen- 
tiles ;  therefore  I  am  willing  to  make  a  sacrifice, 
which  I  can  say  from  the  depth  of  my  heart,  is  not 
one  that  costs  me  nothing :'  his  voice  faltered  for  a 


299 

moment,  but  he  went  on  with  fresh  spirit.  ^  I  wish  to 
be,  in  the  sight  of  all  men,  wholly  and  openly  a  Jew  ; 
and  as  such  I  shall  carefully  compare  the  law  and  the 
prophets  with  what  Christians  assert  is  their  fulfil- 
ment. I  shall  ask  wisdom  from  the  God  of  Israel, 
who  alone  can  give  it :  then,  if  I  find  Christianity  to 
be,  as  you  say  it  is,  the  end  of  our  law  and  the  fulfill- 
ing of  our  prophets ;  if  He,  whom  you  assert  to  be 
King  of  the  Jews,  is  really  so,  and  not  an  imposter,  I 
shall  be  found  in  the  right  path  for  the  acceptation  of 
that  which  as  yet  I  cannot  receive  ;  and  as  I  know 
Judaism  to  be  of  God,  so  if  Christianity  be  of  God  also, 
they  cannot  clash — they  must  combine,  and  form  but 
one.  To  you,  dear  sir,  I  owe  more  than  I  can  speak  ; 
and  I  do  indeed  regret  that  my  father's  tardy  acknow- 
ledgment of  what  it  seems  was  certainly  obligatory 
on  him,  should  have  involved  you  in  so  much  addi- 
tional trouble  on  my  account ;  should  have  deranged 
your  plans,  and  embarrassed  your  movements,  and 
perhaps  have  placed  the  beloved  babe  in  danger.  For 
your  sake  I  most  deeply  regret  it ;  for  my  own  I  can- 
not :  selfishness  prevails,  when  I  think  on  the  benefits 
that  I  have  derived,  and  may  yet  more  derive,  from 
our  short  intercourse.'  He  took  Captain  Ryan's  hand, 
and  pressed  it  to  his  lips  ;  then  joining  it  to  Da 
Costa's,  he  added,  '  In  whatever  you  may  differ,  you 
are  one  in  affection  for  an  unworthy  youth,  and  one  in 
honourable,  generous  feeling.  Are  you  satisfied,  Cap- 
tain Ryan  V 

^  More  than  satisfied;  I  see  the  advantages  of  your 
future  position  ;  and  so  long  as  you  abide  by  the  re- 
solve to  study  the  Scriptures  with  prayer  for  divine 


300  judah's  lion. 

teaching,  the  absence  of  man's  interpretations  will  be 
a  positive  gain.     But  beware  of  the  Talmud!' 

'  The  Talmudj'  said  Da  Costa,  *  is  our  oral  law, 
and  as  binding  on  us  as  the  New  Testament  is  on 
you.' 

'  I  never  understood,'  said  Alick,  *  that  the  Talmud 
was  an  inspired  book.' 

*  I  can  tell  you,'  replied  Captain  Ryan,  '  in  the 
words  of  an  estabhshed  catechism  of  your  nation,  how 
this  is  regarded.  It  is  asked,  ^  In  what  manner  did 
Moses  transmit  to  us  the  law  ?  Answer,  Partly  by 
means  of  the  written,  and  partly  by  the  oral  law,  or 
tradition.'  Then  again  ;  '  Have  the  Mishna  and  Ge- 
mara  equal  importance  with  the  written  law?  Answer, 
Just  the  same.  They  are  and  must  be  just  as  impor- 
tant as  Holy  Scripture,  for  they  contain  no  arbitrary 
or  human  ordinances  : — but  1st,  Divine  traditions  and 
declarations  to  Moses;  2ndly,  Laws  enforced  by  aug- 
mentation— i.  e.,  according  to  the  thirteen  traditional 
rules  of  interpretation  ;  and  3rdly,  Ordinances  of  the 
prophets  and  subsequent  wise  men,  which  are,  as  it 
were,  erected  round  the  word  of  God  as  a  wall  of  de- 
fence. All  these,  as  having  been  received  by  the 
whole  nation,  have  the  same  importance  as  Holy 
Scripture."  This  is  from  the  Bavarian  Catechism, 
word  for  word.' 

'  But,'  rejoined  Alick,  '  I  heard  some  things  very 
lately  stated  on  the  authority  of  the  Talmud,  which  I 
should  not  like  to  consider  myself  bound  to  believe  as 
of  equal  authority  with  the  Bible.' 

'  And  I  confess,'   said   Da   Costa,  '  that  there   are 


some  few  things  in  it  which  I  hope  and  believe  are 
not  now  held  by  us  as  matters  of  faith.' 

'  You  must  hold  them  so,  on  the  authority  of  your 
Catechisms,'  repeated  Captain  Ryan ;  '  for  even  in 
England,  and  within  these  two  or  three  years,  such 
have  been  re-published  as  this — after  mentioning  the 
five  books  of  Moses — '  We  also,  from  the  same  source, 
receive,  as  sacred  and  authentic,  a  large  number  of 
traditions  not  committed  to  writing,  but  transmitted 
by  word  of  mouth  down  to  later  times  ;  without  which 
many  enactments  in  the  Holy  Bible  could  not  have 
been  understood  and  acted  upon  ;  these,  termed  tra- 
ditional or  oral  laws,  were  collected  and  formed  into 
a  volume  called  the  '  Mishna,'  by  Rabbi  Jehuda  Ha- 
kodesh  a.  m.  4150 ;  in  addition  to  this,  we  are  guided 
by  the  explications  of  the  later  schools  of  pious  and 
learned  Rabbins,  constituting  what  is  now  known  by 
the  name  of  the  Talmud,  or  Gemara.'  These  tradi- 
tions, hiding  as  a  dense  cloud  the  brightness  of  God's 
word,  made  it  of  none  effect ;  and  under  the  darkness 
so  produced,  they  to  whom  the  Lord  of  glory  came, 
could  not  discern  him,  but  here,  even  here,  they  de- 
nied, rejected,  and  crucified  him.  He  was  asked 
"  Why  do  thy  disciples  transgress  the  traditions  of 
the  elders  ?  for  they  wash  not  their  hands  when  they 
eat  bread.  But  he  answered  and  said  unto  them. 
Why  do  ye  also  transgress  the  commandment  of  God 
by  your  traditions?"  And  again  he  quoted  the  words 
of  Isaiah,  "  In  vain  do  they  worship  me,  teaching  for 
doctrines  the  commandments  of  men."  Beware  of 
the  Talmud,  Cohen !  beware  of  the  admixture  of 
man's  devices  with  the  pure  truth  of  God  !' 

26 


302  judah's  lion. 

'  You  are  making  the  most  of  your  opportunity, 
Captain  Ryan,'  said  Da  Costa. 

^  Ay,  and  bitterly  lamenting  that  I  have  not  always 
done  the  same.  I  calculated  on  many  a  convenient 
season  for  talking  to  you  both  on  the  things  that  be- 
long to  your  peace  ;  and  forgetful,  or  too  httle  mind- 
ful of  the  commandment  not  to  boast  myself  of  the 
morrow,  I  have  held  back  much  that  now  I  may  not 
be  able  to  say.  The  very  circumstance  that  should 
have  quickened  me  in  the  work,  has  furnished  a  sort 
of  pretext  for  being  backward  in  it — my  boy's  danger ; 
and  the  courtesy,  the  kindness,  the  hospitality,  that 
you.  Da  Costa,  have  shown  me  in  this  land,  instead 
of  rendering  me  more  faithfully  urgent  with  you  in 
matters  of  salvation,  have  even  fostered  a  false  deli- 
cacy on  my  part ;  a  reluctance  to  wound  your  feelings 
or  to  shock  your  prejudices  by  honest  zeal  for  the  con- 
version of  your  soul.' 

*  You  have  not  only  shocked  my  prejudices,'  said 
Da  Costa,  '  but  sometimes  you  have  so  put  them  to 
the  rout  that  I  could  hardly  marshal  them  again : 
you  have  not  only  wounded,  but  well-nigh  slain  my 
feelings  of  religious  intolerance,  by  the  exhibition  of 
Christianity  as  so  very  lovely  a  thing,  in  your  own 
character  and  that  of  your  dear  wife,  and  angelic  little 
boy,  on  whom  be  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  !' 

'  Hear,  hear  him!'  cried  Alick,  in  an  ecstacy  of 
delight,  while  Captain  Ryan,  much  moved,  bowed 
his  head.  Then  resuming  his  animated,  energetic 
manner,  he  said,  '  Da  Costa,  you  have  blessed  my 
boy,  who,  babe  as  he  is,  would  this  hour  yield  his 
throat  to  the  knife  in  witness   of  the  truth  which  he 


judah's  lion.  303 

holds,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Messiah  of  Israel, 
the  hope  of  the  Gentiles,  the  King  of  glory,  God  over 
all,  blessed  for  ever.  Now  I  challenge  you  on  the 
ground  of  that  blessing  (which  may  the  Lord  confirm !) 
to  reject  the  doctrines  of  the  Talmud,  which  bid  you, 
in  lieu  of  blessing  that  Christian  boy,  to  seek  his  life.' 

^  No,  no :'  said  Da  Costa,  hastily ;  '  there  are  no 
such  doctrines  in  the  Gemara ;  and  if  any  such  thing 
have  crept  in,  it  is  now  obsolete — wholly  exploded.' 

'  Obsolete  !  can  any  command  of  the  living  God  be 
obsolete  ?  You  aver,  in  the  catechisms  which  I  have 
just  quoted,  that  the  oral  is  of  equal  authority  with 
the  written  law ;  and  that  this  forms  a  part  of  your 
oral  law,  I  will  instantly  prove  to  you.'  He  ran  to 
his  travelling  valise,  and  drawing  forth  a  volume, 
went  on  :  '  Here  is  a  book  of  which  you  will  not  deny 
the  authority,  as  explaining  and  enforcing  the  pre- 
cepts of  this  oral  law,  the  Hilchoth  M'lachim :  read 
now  this  passage — "  Moses  our  master  did  not  give 
the  law  as  an  inheritance  to  any  but  Israel ;  as  it  is 
said,  '  the  inheritance  of  the  congregation  of  Jacob ;' 
and  to  those  of  the  nations  who  might  wish  to  become 
proselytes.  Moses  our  master  has  also  commanded 
us,  by  Divine  appointment,  to  compel  all  that  come 
into  the  world  to  embrace  the  commandments  given 
to  the  children  of  Noah.  And  whosoever  will  not 
embrace  them  is  to  be  put  to  deaths  Do  you  know 
what  is  meant  by  the  children  of  Noah  T 

Da  Costa  was  silent ;  Alick  said  '  No.' 

'  They  are  one  of  the  four  classes  into  which  your 
Rabbins  of  the  Gemara  divide  mankind.  Israelites, 
Proselytes,  children  of  Noah,  and  Idolaters.     In  the 


304 

last  class,  we,  who  acknowledge  Jesus  as  our  Lord, 
are  included.  The  third  head  comprises  those  among 
the  Gentiles  who  are  wholly  free  from  every  thing 
that  in  the  mind  of  a  Jew  constitutes  idolatry  ;  and 
these  can,  moreover,  only  be  enrolled  in  this  privileged 
class  during  the  celebration  of  a  Jubilee,  which  ren- 
ders it  impossible  for  any  now  to  claim  the  benefit 
Consequently  I  repeat  it,  as  my  little  Charley  would 
not,  to  save  his  life  fifty  times  over,  deny  his  Lord — 
there  is  no  remedy :  according  to  the  Talmud  he  is 
to  be  put  to  death.' 

*  There's  not  a  Jew  living  who  would  think  of  any 
such  thing,'  said  Da  Costa,  impatiently. 

*  I  believe  it;  therefore  there  is  not  a  Jew  living 
who,  in  his  heart  and  conscience,  and  practice  too,  re- 
ceives the  Talmud  as  the  law  of  God.  The  atrocious 
calumnies  propagated  concerning  you  have  only  ob- 
tained credence,  where  they  did  obtain  it,  by  appeal- 
ing to  such  passages  as  I  have  now  shown  you,  which 
stand  side  by  side  with  the  reiterated  declaration,  in  all 
languages,  that  you  regard  the  oral  law  as  equally 
authoritative  and  binding  with  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
Tell  me,  then,  is  Cohen  to  be  a  Jew  according  to  the 
written  law  of  Moses,  or  according  to  the  countless  re- 
quirements of  the  Talmud  T 

It  was  a  puzzling  question  ;  Alick  fixed  an  earnest 
look  on  Da  Costa,  who  at  length  said,  '  My  own  edu- 
cation has  been  that  of  a  man  destined  to  mercantile 
pursuits,  and  having,  of  course,  nothing  to  do  with 
theological  disputations.  I  have  learned  to  observe 
and  to  do  what  is  generally  required  of  those  forming 
our  congregations,  and  so  far  I  can  guide  Cohen  ia 


JUDAH  S    LION.  305 

the  same  path.  I  may  not  be  able  to  trace  up  every 
ceremonial  to  its  precise  origin,  whether  in  the  written 
or  the  oral  law,  but  I  can  attest  that  it  is  an  observance 
binding  on  us  as  Jews.' 

'  Could  we  not  procure  a  copy  of  the  Talmud  and 
study  it  on  our  road  V  asked  Alick. 

Captain  Ryan  looked  at  Da  Costa,  who  could  not 
refrain  from  laughing,  as  he  replied,  '  A  dozen  pon- 
derous folios  would  be  too  cumbrous  an  item  for  our 
saddle-bags.' 

'  A  dozen  folios !  why  it  would  take  a  man's  natural 
life  to  become  properly  acquainted  with  their  contents,' 
said  Alick,  involuntarily  drawing  forth  his  Bible,  and 
compressing  it  between  his  hands. 

^  True  ;'  replied  Captain  Ryan ;  '  and  as  the  Lord 
purposed  his  blessed  word  to  be  a  lamp  to  the  feet  and 
a  light  to  the  paths  of  each  poor  pilgrim,  he  made  it 
so  simple  that  a  child  may  comprehend ;  so  portable 
that  a  child  may  carry  it  in  his  bosom.  Yet,  Da 
Costa,  as  the  covenant  by  which  you  profess  to  stand 
is  one  of  works,  and  the  penalty  of  a  curse  is  de- 
nounced against  every  man  who  fails  to  observe  all 
the  commandments  of  God,  it  must  behove  each  one 
of  you  to  be  fully  versed  in  every  precept  of  the  oral 
law,  if  it  be,  as  your  Rabbins  assert,  of  equal  authority 
with  the  Scriptures.' 

There  was  too  much  plain  sense  in  all  this  to  be 
easily  parried.  Da  Costa  merely  said, '  For  any  breach 
of  particular  observances  with  which  we  may  not  be 
acquainted,  we  shall  be  held  clear  on  the  ground  of 
ignorance,  and  our  absence  from  the  teachers  of  the 
law,   and  the   pubHc   instruction  of   the   synagogue. 

26* 


306 

After  a  while,  Alick  must  study  under  a  competent 
tutor :  and  so  become  versed  in  what  concerns  him  as 
an  IsraeUte  to  know.' 

*  My  dear  friend !  look  at  the  fourth  chapter  of 
Leviticus,  and  you  will  see  what  a  solemn  act  of  sacri- 
fice, the  slaying  of  a  bullock,  the  sprinkling  of  his 
blood,  the  burning  of  his  flesh,  was  directed,  with 
much  exact  confession,  where  a  soul  had  sinned 
through  ignorance  against  any  of  the  commandments 
of  the  Lord.  There  was  no  other  way  appointed — 
without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission  of  sins. 
Against  the  hundred  thousand  minute  requirements 
of  the  oral  law,  you  must  necessarily  be  in  hourly 
danger  of  transgressing  ;  and  if  they  be  the  com- 
mandments of  God,  you  need  the  daily  sacrifice,  the 
perpetual  pouring  forth  of  atoning  blood  before  the 
Lord.  When  and  where  do  you  purpose  offering 
this  sin-offering,  this  bullock,  and  sprinkling  his 
blood,  and  burning  his  flesh,  while  your  penitential 
confessions  ascend  before  the  footstool  of  the  Most 
High  V 

'■  Here!'  answered  Da  Costa,  in  a  voice  of  thun- 
der :  '  Here,  in  Jerusalem  ;  here,  where  the  temple 
once  stood,  and  where  yet  again  it  shall  arise  in  more 
exceeding  glory  and  beauty.  We  have  now  no  temple, 
no  altar ;  yonder  accursed  fabric  usurps  the  spot  where 
stood  our  holy  and  beautiful  house  ;  it  shall  again  be 
ours  !  but  think  you  the  God  of  Israel  will  judge  his 
people  for  failing  in  that  which  He  hasrendered  them 
incapable  of  doing  V 

'  Listen,  Da  Costa :  your  fathers  in  the  wilderness 
offered  sacrifices  according  to   the  law  of  God,  and 


307 

according  to  the  rites  by  him  commanded.  They 
were  miraculously  fed  by  bread  from  heaven,  and  the 
water  which  they  drank  was  a  miraculous  supply. 
That  sandy  desert  yielded  no  pasturage,  no  streams : 
therefore  the  sustenance  of  their  herds  and  flocks  was 
no  less  a  miracle  than  their  own.  The  tabernacle 
was  borne  onward,  was  pitched,  as  the  Lord  directed : 
and  when  stationary,  the  altars  were  arranged,  the 
sacrifice  was  offered,  the  visible  glory  of  God  rested 
upon  the  scene,  and  while  as  yet  no  place  was  found 
for  the  permanent  worship  of  the  Most  Highest,  the 
expiatory  rite  was  constantly  renewed,  and  Israel 
served  God  according  to  his  own  commandments,  be- 
fore this  spot  was  ever  pressed  by  the  sole  of  a  Hebrew 
foot' 

'  But  afterwards,'  said  Da  Costa,  ^  God  did  put  his 
name  here,  and  commanded  that  here  alone  those 
sacred  rites  should  be  performed  :  here  was  the  Holy 
of  holies  ;  here  the  victim  was  slain,  and  his  blood 
presented  before  the  mercy-seat ;  here  only  could  Is- 
rael acceptably  appear  before  the  Lord;  and  when 
this  place  was  wrested  from  us,  we  were  shut  out  from 
obedience  to  laws  so  expressly  limiting  to  one  place 
the  fulfilment  of  what  they  required.' 

'  Which  very  limitation,'  interrupted  Captain  Ryan, 
*  proved  that  so  long  as  the  blood  of  bulls  and  goats 
was  to  be  shed  in  typical  expiation,  you  should  not 
lose  the  power  of  rendering  such  service ;  and  when 
the  act  was  rendered,  wholly  impracticable  to  you.  it 
proved  that  God  had  provided  for  you  a  more  excel- 
lent way.' 

'  Not  so  fast,  my  good  friend ;  Judah  was  carried 


308 

away  captive  into  Babylon  at  one  time,  and  remained 
in  exile  for  seventy  years,  equally  unable  as  now  to 
carry  on  the  temple-services.  They  were  restored  ; 
but  no  change  of  dispensation  took  place  ;  the  temple 
was  rebuilt,  but  not  for  the  substitution  of  another 
form  of  worship.  The  law  of  Moses  involuntarily 
broken  for  three-score  years  and  ten,  was  in  full  force, 
as  now  it  is :  and  carried  out  again,  as  by  and  by  it 
will  be,  into  perfect  operation.  Now,  Ryan,  what  say 
you  to  this  V 

'  I  say,  first,  that  your  fathers  were  carried  into  cap- 
tivity because  they  had  made  the  holy  temple  of  the 
Lord  an   offence   by  introducing  idol-worship  :    they 
had  left  off  to  sacrifice  according  to  Moses'  law,  and 
every  abomination  which  the  Lord  hateth  they  did  unto 
their  foul  heathen  gods.     The  temple  was  destroyed 
because  it  had  been  profaned  by  idolatry ;  the  people 
punished  because  they  had  so  profaned  it.     Again,  I 
say,  the  voice   of  the  Lord  was  never  silent  among 
you  during  that  short  dispersion  ;    Jeremiah  had  f<)re- 
told  the   coming  visitation,  its  cause,  and  its  issue. 
Ezekiel,   Daniel,   and    others,   incessantly  spoke   the 
word  of  the  Lord,  promising  a  speedy  removal  of  the 
chastisement,  and  distinctly  signifying  that  its  dura- 
tion  would  be    short,   and    that   the    temple-worship 
should  be  revived  on  its  termination.      This  affliction 
had  an  appointed  use  ;  it  was  to  wean  you  from  idol- 
atry.     It  succeeded ;    you   never   relapsed  into   that 
crime,  and  now  for  eighteen  hundred  years  the  heart's 
desire  of  your  scattered  people   has  been  to  resume 
the  worship  of  God  in  this  place,  according  to  what 
Moses  enjoined.     How  do  you,  how  can  you  account 


judah's  lion.  309 

for  this?  Does  not  your  heart  whisper  that  a  better 
sacrifice  has  been  offered — one  all-satisfying  atone- 
ment which  the  former  rites  did  but  prefigure,  and 
that  by  expelling  you  and  keeping  you  expelled  from 
the  only  place  where  you  might  resume  those  sha- 
dowy sacrifices  and  ceremonials,  the  Lord  would  have 
yoju  to  understand  he  requires  them  at  your  hands  no 
longer?' 

^  No,  no,'  answered  Da  Costa  hastily,  while  Alick's 
face  shone  with  the  light  that  continually  more  and 
more  broke  in  upon  his  mind  ;  ^  We  have  wandered 
away  from  our  subject,  Captain  Ryan,  and  perhaps  it 
is  as  well  to  wander  away  from  it  as  to  wander  up 
and  down  in  it.  We  never  shall  see  these  things  in 
the  same  point  of  view.  You  will  never  become  a 
Jew,  nor  shall  I  cease  to  be  so.' 

'  Yet  one  word  more,  my  friend,  and  I  have  done. 
Jew  or  Gentile,  we  are  guilty  men ;  be  it  the  oral,  the 
ceremonial,  or  the  moral  law,  we  stand  guilty  before 
God  of  innumerable  transgressions :  some  way  there 
must  be  of  salvation,  or  what  a  doom  of  hopeless 
horror  is  before  us !  It  is  not  by  keeping. the  oral  law 
that  you  can  attain  safety,  for  you  know  not  the 
hundredth  part  of  its  minute  requirements,  and  the 
sin  of  ignorance  demands  a  sacrifice  which  you  cannot 
offer.  It  is  not  by  strict  adherence  to  the  ceremonial 
law,  for  you,  standing  here  in  Jerusalem  itself,  within 
sight  of  the  appointed  spot,  must  die  by  infidel  hands 
if  you  but  plant  a  footstep  within  its  desecrated  boun- 
daries. It  is  not  by  the  moral  law,  which  might 
equally  avail  us  both,  for  on  what  night  could  you 
or  I  say  before  the  Lord,  "  This  day  I  have  broken 


310  JUDAH^S    LION. 

no  precept — this  day  I  have  loved  the  Lord  my  God 
and  served  him  with  all  my  heart,  all  my  soul,  all 
my  faculties,  and  all  my  means.  I  have  wronged  no 
man — I  have  not  coveted  aught  that  was  withheld 
from  me — I  am  wholly  guiltless  towards  God  and 
towards  man,"  No,  we  cannot  look  into  the  mirror 
of  the  two  tables,  and  not  hide  our  faces  for  shame.' 

Da  Costa  appeared  touched  by  this  ;  his  bright  eye 
flashed  and  glared  no  longer ;  but  with  a  downcast 
look  he  slightly  moved  his  head,  seemingly  not  in  dis- 
sent, but  in  regretful  acknowledgement  of  the  truth  of 
what  he  heard.  Captain  Ryan  resumed,  with  deep 
and  solemn  earnestness. 

'  It  was  commanded  of  God  that  in  one  place  alone 
of  all  the  earth  should  the  mysterious  expiatory  offer- 
ing be  made  daily,  by  those  whom  alone  he  acknow- 
ledged as  his  people,  the  depositories  of  his  holy  will. 
Here,  in  Jerusalem,  was  the  appointed  place :  and 
here  in  Jerusalem  was  the  mighty  work  accomplished. 
Here  the  Lamb  of  God  was  set  apart  and  slain ;  from 
hence  he  went  with  the  all-suffii  lent  offering  of  his 
own  blood  into  the  Holy  of  holies  up  yonder,  to  ap- 
pear in  the  presence  of  God  for  us.  In  him,  the  sub- 
stance, every  shadow  terminated ;  in  him,  the  antitype, 
every  type  was  realized  ;  and  let  all  the  thunders  of 
Sinai  peal  forth,  denouncing  God's  righteous  judg- 
ments on  me,  a  polluted  sinner,  here  I  take  my  stand 
— Christ,  the  passover  of  Israel,  the  Lamb  slain  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world,  is  sacrificed  for  us,  for  me 
— yesj  Lord, 

My  faith  would  lay  her  hand, 
On  that  dear  head  of  thine, 


311 

While  like  a  penitent  I  stand, 
And  there  confess  my  sin. 

My  soul  looks  back  to  see 

The  burdens  thou  didst  bear, 
When  hanging  on  th'  accursed  tree, 

And  hopes  her  guilt  was  there! 

*  And  mine,'  was  the  silent  response  of  poor  Alick's 
throbbing  heart ;  but  no  word  passed  his  hps.  Cap- 
tain Ryan's  eyes  were  upUfted,  and  the  expression  of 
his  countenance  was,  hke  his  voice,  at  once  fervent, 
humble,  trusting,  rejoicing.  For  a  moment  Da  Costa 
fixed  on  him  a  look  of  intense  inquiry — for  a  moment 
it  seemed  as  though  he  almost  wished  indeed  to  un- 
derstand his  feelings,  if  not  to  share  them :  then  ab- 
ruptly, as  if  waking  from  an  idle  reverie,  he  said,  '  We 
have  talked  a  good  deal,  and  must  leave  off  just 
where  we  started.  It  pains  me  truly  to  have  been 
made,  in  my  own  despite,  the  instrument  of  thus  put- 
ting you  completely  out  of  your  way,  and  now  of 
leaving  you  with  that  dear  sick  boy.'  Captain  Ryan 
interrupted  him  :  '  You  have  not  in  the  least  deranged 
my  plans,  my  dear  fellow  :  Charley  is  so  happy  in  be- 
ing within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  :  that  I  cannot  be 
thankful  enough  for  having  reached  them :  and  w^e 
are  most  comfortably  situated.  Excepting  the  pain 
of  this  abrupt  separation,  we  shall  feel  no  way  dis- 
turbed by  the  turn  matters  have  taken  ;  and  if  we  can 
soften  it  to  poor  Charley,  I  am  able  even  to  bless  the 
overruling  Providence  that  has  so  ordered  all  things, 
contrary  indeed  to  our  plans,  but  for  the  ultimate 
advantage  of  us  all.' 

'  And  will  you  write  to  my  father  ?'  asked  Alick . 


>1£ 


312 

^  and  will  you  assure  him  of  your  forgiveness  ?  I  know 
it  must  have  pained  hrni  bitterly  to  act  as  he  felt  com- 
pelled to  do.' 

'  It  did  indeed,'  said  Da  Costa ;  '  and  a  few  kind 
words  from  you  would  be  invaluable/ 

^  Never  fear  ;  I'll  write  him  as  cordially  as  I  feel  to- 
wards him,  and  that  is  not  a  little.  Now,  Cohen,  will 
you  pay  another  visit  to  your  poor  infant  friend,  and 
Da  Costa  also '/' 

'  Let  him  go  first,  and  have  a  good  talk  with  him,' 
said  Da  Costa ;  '  I  will  make  some  arrangements, 
and  then  join  you.' 

They  parted  with  mutual  cordiality ;  Captain  Ryan 
summoned  his  wife,  to  hear  what  had  occurred,  and 
Alick,  with  a  swelling  heart  repaired  to  the  sick  room. 
Entering,  he  heard  the  happy  tones  of  that  little  voice 
reciting  the  sixtieth  chapter  of  Isaiah :  Charley  was  at 
the  twelfth  verse,  and  most  energetically  did  he  re- 
peat, "  The  nation  and  kingdom  that  will  not  serve 
thee  shall  perish ;  yea,  those  nations  shall  be  utterly 
wasted.  The  glory  of  Lebanon  shall  come  unto  thee, 
the  fir-tree,  the  pine-tree,  and  the  box  together,  to 
beautify  the  place  of  my  sanctuary :  and  I  will  make 
the  place  of  rny  feet  glorious."  The  boy  lifted  his 
head,  looking  towards  the  Mount  of  Olives,  and  almost 
shouted,  '  Glorious,  glorious ;  he  will  make  the  place 
of  his  feet  glorious.  You  beautiful  hill !  you  shall  be 
glorious  then  ;  for  you  shall  be  the  place  of  his  feet,  I 
know  ;  and  Jerusalem  shall  be  the  place  of  his  feet. 
Oh,  mamma,  when  may  I  go  out?  Am  not  I  one  of 
the  little  boys  that  shall  play  in  the  streets  of  Jerusa- 
lem, when  they  shall  be  full  of  boys  and  girls  playing  ?' 


313 

He  looked  round,  supposing  his  mother  was  there,  and 
saw  Alick  vainly  striving  to  hide  his  tears.  '  Ah,  you 
darling,  is  it  you  ?  You  are  crying  now,  because 
Jerusalem  is  taken  away  from  you  ;  but  how  glad  you 
will  be  when  He  makes  the  place  of  His  feet  glorious !' 

Alick  sat  down  beside  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  felt 
really  better. 

'  Sure  and  I  do !  I  shall  get  quite  well  in  no  time 
now ;  and  all  I  want  is  for  us  to  buy  a  house,  and  live 
always  here  in  Jerusalem.' 

'  What,  and  never  see  Ireland,  poor  Ireland,  again  V 

'  I  love  poor  dear  Ireland,  so  I  do,  you  can't  think 
how  much :  but  you  see  I'd  rather  be  here,  and  wait 
for  the  Lord's  coming.' 

'  But  some  say  there  will  be  great  fighting,  and 
kiUing ;  you  would  not  like  that  V 

'  Papa  says  there  will  be  fighting  and  killing  every- 
where ;  but  God's  people  wont  fight.' 

'  I  think  we  shall,'  said  Alick.  '  You  know  he  says 
to  the  Jews,  "  Thou  art  my  battle-axe,  and  weapons 
of  war;  for  with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the  na- 
tions: and  with  thee  will  I  destroy  kingdoms;  and 
with  thee  will  I  break  in  pieces  the  horse  and  his 
rider,"  and  so  it  goes  on.' 

'  Ay,  but,  Mr.  Alick,  the  Jews  won't  break  me  in 
pieces,  because  I  love  them  so.' 

'  You  dear  little  fellow  !' 

'  I  say,  will  you  take  me  on  your  knee,  and  let  me 
get  an  uncommon  good  look  at  the  Mount  of  Olives  1 
do.' 

Alick  complied  ;  he  wrapped  a  light  dressing  gown 
round  him,  and  hfting  him  in  his  arms,  sat  with  him 

27 


314 

opposite  the  little  window  ;  Charley  delighted  to  find 
himself  again  nestled  on  the  bosom  of  his  friend,  and 
little  dreaming,  how  much  sorrow  was  struggling  in 
that  bosom  at  the  prospect  of  leaving  him,  prattled 
away  ;  pouring  out  the  fulness  of  his  believing,  loving 
heart,  as  he  went  over  the  various  scenes  so  well 
noted  in  his  memory,  of  the  Lord's  history  connected 
with  that  mountain.  He  talked  of  Gethsemane  till 
his  voice  faltered,  and  tears  fell  on  his  still  pale  cheek  ; 
he  spoke  of  the  ascension  till  his  thoughts  seemed  to 
take  wing  and  mount  with  the  angelic  squadrons  who 
heralded  the  King  of  glory  to  the  everlasting  doors. 
He  dwelt  on  his  return,  the  cleaving  asunder  of  the 
hill,  and  the  fearful  confusion  that  should  overtake  his 
baffled  foes  ;  and  then  fondly  stroking  the  cheek  of 
his  entranced  listener,  he  told  him  how  Jesus  wept 
over  Jerusalem,  looking  down  on  the  spot  where  they 
then  were,  and  how  ready  he  was  to  gather  him,  '  a 
darling  Jew,'  under  his  wing,  as  a  hen  shelters  a  little 
chicken.  To  all  this,  Alick  returned  no  answer, 
though  the  occasional  kiss,  and  the  occasional  tear 
too  that  Charley  felt  on  his  brow,  was  encouragement 
enough  to  the  infant  missionary,  and  led  him  out  into 
the  utterance  of  many  of  his  brightest,  wildest 
thoughts — wild  only,  as  they  knew  none  of  the  bounds 
within  which  man's  silly  wisdom  would  confine  the 
glorious  revelations  of  God.  Some  time  had  passed 
thus,  when  Da  Costa  entered  with  Captain  and  Mxs. 
Ryan,  the  latter  of  whom  had  been  weeping  abun- 
dantly ;  and  sitting  down,  said,  as  he  took  Charley's 
hand,  '  Why  you  are  quite  a  new  man  !' 

*  We  must  all  be  new  men,  Mr.  Dockster,  or  we'll 


815 

have  to  run  away  when  He  comes  and  stands  on  that 
Mount  of  Olives.' 

'  What  do  you  mean  by  a  new  man  ?'  said  Da  Cos- 
ta, evidently  puzzled. 

*  A  sinful  man  changed  into  a  holy  man  by  believ- 
ing in  Jesus  Christ' 

*  I  hope  you  will  live  to  preach  a  great  many  of 
your  pithy  sermons,  Charley.' 

^  I  do  not  know  what  pithy  is,  Mr.  Dockster  ;  but 
if  it  means  the  Gospel,  I'll  preach  it  as  long  as  I 
live,  and  the  sooner  I  die  the  faster  I'll  preach  it,  so  I 
will' 

'  Why  so  ?'  said  Alick,  who  longed  to  hear  all  he 
could. 

'  Because  it  makes  me  so  happy:  I'm  afraid  of  no- 
thing when  I  think  how  the  Lord  Jesus  loves  me,  a 
poor  little  child :  and  how  able  he  is  to  take  care  of 
me.  Oh,  and  he  was  a  little  child  too,  and  here,  here 
in  this  very  place,  he  tarried  behind  to  talk  with  the 
Doctors  in  the  temple  !  It  is  so  nice  to  think  he  w^as 
a  little  child  like  me ;  he  knows  all  about  little 
children,  because  he  was  one.  I  did  not  think  of 
that  since  I  came  to  Jerusalem.  When  I  am  well, 
Mr.  Dockster,  will  you  carry  me  everywhere  on  your 
horse  V 

'  Charles,'  said  his  father,  we  are  going  to  ask  you 
something  ;  we  want  to  know  what  you  think.  There 
is  a  dear  young  Jew,  in  danger,  as  we  believe,  shut  up 
in  a  strong  place  by  some  monks,  to  make  him  turn 
Romanist.  Mr.  Da  Costa  is  his  friend ;  and  this 
young  man's  poor  old  father  has  asked  him  to  go  and 
find  him,  and  set  him  free.     What  shall  we  do  V 


316 

*  Oh,  to  be  sure  you  must  go  fast,  Mr.  Dockster,'  said 
Charley  ;  '  take  plenty  of  soldiers  and  policemen,  and 
get  him  out  of  their  clutches.' 

^  There  are  no  soldiers,  no  policemen  here,  Char- 
ley ;  moreover,  it  is  necessary  to  keep  it  a  secret ; 
and  yet  how  hard  for  poor  Da  Costa  to  go  alone  I  I 
would  accompany  him,  but  that  I  cannot  possibly 
leave  mamma  and  you.' 

Charley  looked  wistfully  round  him,  and  last  of  all 
at  Alick ;  he  hesitated  ;  the  struggle  was  evidently 
very  great,  and  so  was  the  anxiety  of  those  who  wit- 
nessed it :  at  last  he  said  in  a  clear,  firm  tone,  '  Christ 
died  for  us,  and  we  ought  to  lay  down  our  lives  for 
the  brethren.  Yes,  you  must  go  :  for  he  is  your  bro- 
ther; you  must  go,  Mr.  Alick,'  he  added,  clinging 
closer  to  him,  '  won't  you?' 

^  Yes,  I  will,'  answered  Alick,  whose  heart  seemed 
to  echo  the  boy's  sentiment.  '  I'll  go,  Charley  ; 
and  you  must  pray  for  us  every  day,  while  we  are 
gone.' 

*  Ah,  won't  I  pray  every  hour?  but  will  you  write 
very  often  to  us?  every  post,  or  every  other  post?' 

*  We  shall  not  soon  reach  a  post-town,'  said  Da 
Costa,  'but  you  shall  hear  of  us  as  often  as  possible? 
and  see  us  again,  I  trust,  before  long.' 

'  And  mind,  Mr.  Dockster,  when  you  see  the  foolish 
Papists  praying  to  crosses,  please  don't  think  that  that 
is  our  religion.' 

'  I  know  it  is  not :  and  now  Charles,  I  say  good 
bye ;  and  I  say,  if  there  is  one  blessing  above  all 
others,  my  noble,  generous,  matchless  boy,  may  it  be 
yours!' 


317 

Charley  held  up  his  meek  face  to  receive  the  fer- 
vent blessing,  and  the  no  less  fervent  kiss  of  Da  Cos- 
ta ;  who,  clasping  both  the  little  hands  in  his,  said — 
*  Take  care  of  yourself,  dear  child  ;  and  I  do  trust  you 
will  soon  be  quite  well — I  feel  sure  of  it.' 

Alick  spoke  not;  for  any  attempt  at  utterance 
would  have  overset  his  firmness.  He  placed  the  child 
again  on  the  pillow,  and  gazed  earnestly  at  him. 
Charley  was  more  than  half  crying,  but  bore  up  ;  and 
again  repeated,  "  Lay  down  our  lives  for  the  breth- 
ren." Alick  stroked  off  the  ringlets  from  his  expan- 
sive little  forehead,  and  with  one  more  long  gaze,  one 
more  kiss,  he  abruptly  turned  away  ;  but  it  was  to 
meet  Mrs  Ryan's  look  of  sorrow  so  deep,  and  dismay 
so  undissembled,  that  he  could  scarcely  stand  it.  He 
clasped  her  hand,  and  in  a  whisper  heard  but  by  her, 
ejaculated  ^  God,  even  your  own  God,  bless  you !' 
He  was  outside  the  door  the  next  moment ;  and  in 
any  but  a  complacent  mood  towards  Da  Costa,  whom 
he  heartily  wished  he  had  never  seen.  He,  however, 
repressed  all  unkind  feelings,  and  gradually  recovered 
the  determined  tone  of  which  he  had  already  given 
evidence.  With  Captain  Ryan  he  parted  as  a  son 
from  a  father ;  and  even  asked  the  blessing  before  it 
could  be  uttered,  which  Da  Costa  heard  in  silence, 
and  then  said,  '■  When  your  good  wishes  are  abroad, 
Ryan,  don't  forget  me,  for  I  have  not  acted  in  this 
matter  from  choice.' 

27* 


CHAPTER  XX 


After  bidding  farewell  to  their  Christian  friends, 
the  two  Hebrews  returned  to  the  foot  of  Zion  ;  and 
while  Alick  prepared  his  travelling  bag,  Da  Costa 
was  closeted  with  old  Wilhelm.  A  sudden  thought 
seized  the  youth,  that  he  would  indulge  himself  with 
one  solitary  ramble  in  the  city  of  his  fathers,  and 
leaving  a  message  for  Da  Costa,  he  at  once  sallied 
forth. 

His  undivided  attention  was  now  fixed  on  the  ob- 
jects before  him :  he  felt  desirous  to  carry  away  on 
his  memory,  on  his  very  heart,  a  deeply-graven  pic- 
ture of  that  dear  and  sacred  spot ;  and  seeing  a  flight 
of  steps  that  led  to  the  top  of  the  inner  wall,  beyond 
which  the  outer  one  formed  a  breast-work,  leaving  a 
path  of  tolerable  width,  he  mounted  them,  and  found 
himself  enabled  to  take  a  noble  view,  not  only  of  the 
city,  but  of  the  surrounding  country.  How  delicious 
was  the  sohtude  of  those  moments !  He  lamented 
his  partial  acquaintance  with  the  scriptures,  a  more 
perfect  knowledge  of  which  would  have  brought  to 
his  mind  many  a  touching,  many  a  spirit-stirring  inci- 
dent connected  with  the  scene  before  him  ;  but  he 
knew  enough  to  make  it  so  absorbingly  interesting, 
that  self  was  wholly  swallowed  up  in  the  sublime 


judah's  lion.  319 

conceptions  of  what  that  royal  city  had  been — what 
she  yet  should  be.  Frequently  pausing,  leaning  over 
the  parapet,  and  rejoicing  to  feel  that  his  heart  was 
indeed  permitted  to  bound  against  the  stones  of  Zion's 
wall,  he  slowly  proceeded,  without  meeting  any  per- 
son, and  almost  realizing  in  his  mind  the  lonely  ex- 
pedition of  Nehemiah,  when  exploring  the  broken 
ruins  of  the  city.  Evening  was  approaching,  and  the 
long  shadows  stretching  on  the  hills  bespoke  the  sun's 
rapid  decline.  He  quickened  his  pace  ;  and  after  a 
while  arrived  at  a  point  whence  the  Mount  of  Ohves 
appeared  visible  to  an  extent  that  he  had  not  before 
noticed;  and  here  he  sat  down,  and  fell  into  the  train 
of  thought  that  usually  connected  itself  with  that 
memorable  spot.  He  was  roused  from  his  reverie  by 
a  hand  gently  laid  on  his  shoulder,  and  an  exclama- 
tion of  delight  burst  from  him  on  recognizing  Captain 
Ryan.  '  How  glad,  how  very  glad  I  am  to  see  you 
once  more,  and  alone  !'  he  said,  and  his  friend  was 
evidently  no  less  pleased. 

'  My  dear  Cohen,  I  was  tempted  to  ask  a  private 
interview  wdth  you,  but  repressed  the  wish ;  for  I 
would  not  interfere  with  the  delegated  authority  of 
Da  Costa,' — '  Pardon  me,  Captain  Ryan,'  interrupted 
Alick,  '  I  recognize  no  such  authority,  neither  does  he 
assume  it.  I  was  merely  told  to  make  my  choice, 
either  to  avow  myself  an  apostate  from  Judaism,  or  to 
submit  to  the  spiritual  governors  of  my  people.  I 
chose,  of  course,  the  latter ;  and  having  also  the  op- 
tion of  remaining,  if  I  wish  it,  with  Da  Costa,  and  de- 
siring to  aid  him  in  his  present  enterprise,  I  become 


320 

the  companion  of  his  journey.  No  authority  is  thereby 
understood.' 

'  In  spiritual  matters  he  undertakes  to  be  your 
guide,  and  regarding  Christianity  in  the  hght  he  does, 
any  interference  on  my  part  would  be  out  of  place.* 

'  Now  tell  me,  honestly,  frankly,  what  is  your  present 
opinion  of  Da  Costa,  since  this  disclosure  V 

'  Just  what  it  was  before.  I  consider  him  an 
honourable  man,  incapable  of  a  base  action,  but  un- 
subdued in  character,  save  as  natural  benevolence  in 
a  measure  counteracts  a  very  fiery,  and  perhaps  a 
somewhat  vindictive  tendency.  In  this  business  I 
believe  him  to  have  acted  most  uprightly  :  and  with 
a  great  sacrifice  of  personal  feeling  to  his  disinterested 
regard  for  you.  It  is  but  honest  on  my  part  to  say  so 
much  ;  but  remember,  Cohen,  what  man  may  be  to 
his  fellow-man  is  a  widely  different  question  from  that 
which  regards  his  state  before  God.  Da  Costa  is 
blindly  attached  to  what  he  believes  to  be  the  religion 
of  Moses,  but  which  he  has  not  fairly  brought  to  the 
test  either  of  your  own  scriptures  or  of  common  sense  ; 
and  while  he  receives  for  doctrines  the  command- 
ments of  men,  without  examining  them,  he  cannot  be 
a  competent  guide  to  others.' 

'  But  I  will  receive  nothing  without  examining  it,' 
said  Alick;  'for  I  cannot  think  my  reasoning  faculties 
were  given  me  to  be  hood-winked,  and  led  about  in 
passive  helplessness  by  those  of  other  men.' 

*  Yet  you  must  hold  your  reason  in  most  perfect 
submission  to  revelation.' 

*  But  is  the  oral  law,  a  revealed  law?' 

^  Ah,  Cohen,  that's  the  grand  question  you  have  to 


321 

solve.  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  when  teaching  in  the 
temple,  told  the  Jews  the  great  hindrance  to  their 
reception  of  him :  he  said,  "  Had  ye  believed  Moses, 
ye  would  have  believed  me :  for  he  wrote  of  me. 
But  if  ye  believe  not  his  writings,  how  shall  ye  be- 
lieve" my  words?"  This  tradition  was  even  then  what 
it  is  now,  opposed  to  the  revelation  of  which  it  pro- 
fesses to  form  a  part ;  and  men  by  receiving  it  actu- 
ally make  void  the  real  commandments  of  God.  I 
am  persuaded:: that,  convinced  as  you  are  of  the  divine, 
the  all-commanding  authority  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
you  never  can  receive  these  human  additions,  unless 
by  the  surrender  either  of  reason  or  revelation — and 
the  latter  sacrifice  would  include  the  former — to  the 
ipse  dixit  of  a  fellow-man.  Hence  my  extreme  soli- 
citude that  you  should  become  acquainted,  as  much 
as  possible,  with  the  minutiae  of  Talmudical  require- 
ments, ever  referring  to  the  pure  word  of  God  ;  and 
then  judge  for  yourself  how  far  they  accord  with  the 
holy  law — so  simple,  so  perspicuous,  so  well  adapted 
to  man,  as  a  reasonable  creature, — which  was  given 
by  Moses.  God  cannot  deny  or  contradict  himself; 
his  work  is  perfect— he  who  believes  Moses,  and  gives 
no  heed  to  man's  vain  interpolations,  additions  and 
perversions,  will  believe,  on  the  evidence  set  before 
him,  in  Him  of  whom  Moses  wrote.' 

^  I  heard  that  mentioned  last  night  as  a  powerful 
argument  for  Talmudism  ;  that  he  who  rejects  it  is  on 
the  high  road  to  become  a  Christian  ;  therefore,  that 
the  oral  law  was  given  to  fence  in  and  secure  the 
written  word.' 


322  judah's  lion. 

*  Then,  it  would  seem,  Christianity  is  contrary  to 
the  Talmud,  but  not  contrary  to  the  oracles  of  God  V 

*  Rather,  that  the  Talmud,  like  a  candle,  throws 
light  on  the  subject,  and  reveals  that  contrariety  to 
God's  law.' 

'  Or,  like  a  false  mirror,  so  distorts  both  objects, 
that  their  beautiful  harmony  is  changed  into  the  most 
discordant  ugliness.  I  wish,  Cohen,  that  you  would 
ask  among  your  learned  men  for  some  Talmudical 
extracts — for  instance,  the  laws  of  the  Mishna, 
relative  to  the  hallowing  of  the  Sabbath-day,  take 
them  with  you,  and  study  them  on  the  road.  If  you 
like,  I  can  supply  you  with  a  volume  ;  but  it  must  be 
on  condition  that  you  show  it  to  a  competent  judge, 
and  let  him  tell  you  whether  or  not  it  is  a  correct 
transcript  of  your  oral  law.' 

'  I  saw  such  a  book  on  the  table  last  night,'  said 
Alick  eagerly  ;  '  and  I  will  borrow  it.' 

^  And  let  Da  Costa  read  it  with  you.' 

^  Certainly ;  but,  remember,  on  the  authority  of  my 
proper  teachers,  I  receive  that  book  as  of  divine 
obligation,  unless  I  find  it  plainly  contrar}'^  to  Scripture 
or  common  sense.' 

'  Yes  :  and  when  you  have  detected  the  falsehood 
of  the  oral  law,  when  you  find  how  imperative  on  you 
is  the  observance  of  the  ceremonial  law,  which  you 
cannot  keep,  and  when  you  have  smarted  a  little  un- 
der that  universal  schoolmaster,  the  moral  law,  you 
will  come,  weary  and  heavy-laden,  to  Christ,  who 
alone  can  deliver  you  from  the  curse  ;  justify,  sanctify, 
and  ultimately  glorify  you,  by  his  free  grace.'  Alick 
answered  not :  he  lifted  his  eyes  to  the  Mount  and 


323 

thought  of  the   words,    "  How  often  would  I  have 
gathered  you!"     He  then  asked  for  Charley. 

'  Dear  little  fellow !  he  was  asleep,  after  praying 
most  earnestly  for  you.  I  have  great  hope  of  his 
recovery ;  but  he  it  life,  or  be  it  death,  he  is  the 
Lord's.' 

^  At  that  moment  the  Jdii^^zzirrf "s'^louH,  monotonous 
voice  broke  upon  their  ear,  "  Prayer  is  better  than 
sleep :  .there  is  but  one  God,  and  Mahomet  is  his 
Prophet."  Alick  exclaimed,  '  Prayer  is  better  than 
sleep  :  there  is  but  one  God  alone  ;  and  Mahomet  is 
an  impostor.' 

'  Hush  !'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '•  you  must  not  beard 
the  lion  in  his  den.' 

'  The  lion  in  his  den,  sir !  the  yelping  cur  in  the 
lion's  den,  you  mean.  The  lion !  O,  Lion  of  Judah, 
who  shall  stir  thee  up  ? — when,  when  wilt  thou  rouse 
thyself,  and  rend  in  pieces  every  intruding  foe  !' 

'-  Ah,  Cohen  ;  when  you  know  that  Lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah  in  his  character  of  the  Lamb  that  was  slain, 
you  will  bless  his  long-suffering  forbearance,  and  de- 
sire, not  the  life  of  that  wretched  pagan,  but  his  soul.' 

'  I  don't  desire  any  man's  life,'  said  Alick,  in  a 
tremor  of  half-subdued  passion  :  '  but  I  want  our  own 
city,  the  city  of  our  ancient  solemnities,  the  land  that 
God  gave  to  Abraham  and  his  seed  for  ever — I  want 
them  delivered  from  these  defilers,  and  restored  to  us, 
at  once  the  sons  and  the  lords  of  the  soil.' 

*  So  do  I !  and  when  you  acknowledge  your  King, 
he  will  speedily  trample  under  foot  every  obstinate 
enemy.' 

^  May  he  hasten  the  day !'  exclaimed  Alick.     His 


324 

vehemence  had,  however,  attracted  the  notice  of  an 
Egyptian  officer,  who  was  narrowly  eyeing  him ;  and 
Captain  Ryan  drew  him  away ;  at  the  same  time 
teUing  him  that  the  prayer  he  had  just  uttered  was 
more  efTectual  than  a  thousand  armies  in  bringing 
about  the  consummation  so  ardently  longed  for.  He 
once  more,  plainly,  earnestly,  admonishingly  set  be- 
fore him  the  Gospel :  he  spoke  of  the  dangers  that 
he  was  about  to  brave,  the  hourly  deaths  to  which  he 
must  be  exposed,  and  showed  him  the  insufficiency  of 
his  present  faith,  the  vague,  unsatisfying  nature  of  his 
hope  for  futurity.  Alick  hstened,  and  assured  him 
that  he  would  not  trifle,  but  seek  by  all  means  to  be- 
come established  in  whatever  he  should  find  to  be  the 
truth.  Once  more  they  parted ;  and  at  sunrise  the 
two  Hebrews  left  the  Holy  City. 

Their  course  lay  towards  some  lofly  mountains,  the 
intricate  passes  of  which  were  famihar  to  Da  Costa ; 
who  told  Alick  they  were  infested  with  rapacious 
Arab  hordes,  but  that  he  had  the  promise  of  an 
escort  from  a  powerful  Sheikh,  who  would,  if  neces. 
sary,  accompany  them  in  person.  *  I  long,'  said 
Ahck,  'to  get  among  the  wild  Arabs:  they  are 
our  half  brethren,  you  know, — the  children  of  Abra- 
ham.' 

^  Ay,  and  so  were  the  Edomites ;  and  what  they 
were  to  Israel  in  the  desert,  thSse  sons  of  Ishmael 
will  prove  to  us,  their  poor  kinsmen,  if  we  be  not 
wary.*  "*" 

'  What  trace  have  you  of  Wilhelm  V 

*  A  very  uncertain  one  ;  but  we   think  he  is  in  a 


325 

Maronite    convent    among   the    distant    mountains. 
Probably,  on  Lebanon.' 

'  What  are  the  Maronites  ?  how  distinguished 
from  others  of  these  multifarious  intruders  upon  our 
property  V 

'  The  Maronites  are,  emphatically.  Papists.  No 
race  of  men  upon  earth  so  devoted  to  the  old  fellow 
at  Rome.  It  is  nauseating  to  a  degree  to  hear  them 
talk  about  him.  You  know,  in  Palestine  here,  the 
monks  are  chiefly  foreigners  ;  I  mean  recent  importa- 
tion of  live  stock,  distinguished  from  the  foreigners 
whelped  on  the  soil.  Northward,  however,  whither 
we  now  proceed,  the  convents  are  peopled  by  the 
latter  class.  The  Maronites  are  native  Syrians ;  not 
forming  a  part  of  the  Romish  Church,  but  given  to 
the  same  edifying  practices.  A  curse  upon  all  idola- 
try !'  he  added,  clenching  his  teeth,  and  scowling 
as  Alick  had  once  or  twice  before  seen  him  do,  when 
adverting  to  poor  Wilhelm's  adventures.  He  took 
no  notice  of  it,  but  proceeded,  "  Do  tell  me  what  you 
think  of  Popery,  as  distinguished  from  the  other  sects 
of  Christianity  V 

'  Why,  it  is  all  idolatry,'  answered  Da  Costa ;  '  but 
with  this  difFerence,  that  in  England,  Popery  is  the 
only  branch  of  it  that  worships  stocks  and  stones  • 
while  here,  every  form  of  Christianity  does  so.  You 
know  what  a  jumble  there  is  in  London  ;  Churchmen, 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  and  some  fifty  more  who 
agree  in  nothing  but  eschewing  image-worship,  and 
deifying  the  Nazarene  ;  but  here  there  is  no  Protes- 
tantism— all,  Greeks,  Latins,  Armenians,  Maronites — 

28 


326  JUDAll'rs    LiOx\. 

all  follow  the  practices  of  the  orignial  race — the  seven 
nations  whom  our  fathers  cast  out  of  the  land.' 

^  How  bitter  he  is!'  thought  Alick ;  then  aloud 
he  said,  *  After  all,  Da  Costa,  seeing  we  have  the 
true  faith,  should  we  not  rather  pity  these  people,  and 
pray  for  them  V 

^  Of  course,'  replied  the  other,  carelessly :  '  but 
Cohen,  I'll  answer  your  question  as  to  Popery  more 
to  the  point.  I  do  hold  it  to  be  the  most  abominable 
prostration  of  human  intellect  on  the  part  of  the  many 
to  the  few  that  ever  under  heaven  existed.  As  to  the 
other  sects,  they  invest  the  object  of  their  worship 
with  the  character  and  the  attributes  of  the  Most 
High  ;  they  say  he  did  such  works  as  man  could  not 
perform ;  they  believe  that  he  rose  from  the  dead 
and  ascended  into  heaven  ;  and  for  this  they  even 
allege  supposed  predictions  in  the  Bible,  which,  if  they 
would  bear  the  meaning  assigned  to  them,  might 
justify  such  belief:  but  Popery,  not  content  with  all 
this,  superadds  such  a  mass  of  senseless  enormities; 
the  adoration  of  images,  wafers,  and  dead  people  for 
whom  they  don't  claim  any  divinity  at  all,  that  the 
multitude  w^ho  allow  a  knavish  priesthood  to  lead 
them  into  it  for  their  own  palpable  gain  and  honour, 
must  be  brutified  far  below  the  nature  of  man.' 

^  And  it  is  notorious,'  said  Alick,  '  that  not  only  our 
scriptures  but  the  New  Testament  also  denominate 
idolatry  as  hateful  to  God :  how  can  such  practices 
prevail,  where  the  authority  of  the  Bible  is  admitted  V 

^  Through  the  assumed  power  of  what  they  call  the 
church,  to  add  to  the  word  of  God,  and  to  bind  the 
peoples'  consciences  to  do  not  only  what  he  has  not 


JUDAH6    LION.  327 

commanded,  but  what  he  has  forbidden.'  Then,  as  if 
suddenly  recollecting  himself,  and  wishing  to  prevent 
further  remark,  he  exclaimed,  '  After  all,  the  Turk  is 
the  most  sensible  fellow  among  them,  notwithstanding 
his  infamous  treatment  of  us;  andj'll  tell  you  what 
Cohen,  I'd  rather  hear  the  Muezzim  from  the  minaret 
than  see  a  crucifix  in  Jerusalem.' 

^  So  would  I,'  answered  Alick  ;  '  for  I  loathe  the 
wooden  idol.' 

^  I  might  have  steeled  you  for  ever  against  Chris- 
tianity,' resumed  Da  Costa,  ^  by  taking  you  into  what 
they  call  the  '  church  of  the  sepulchre,'  but  I  would 
not  pollute  myself  by  crossing  the  threshold.' 

*  They  are  not  Protestants  who  go  there,  though.' 

^  Not  to  enact  the  profane  farce  ;  but  I  have  seen 
Protestant  gentlemen,  ay,  and  right  pious  Protestant 
clergymen  pressing  into  it,  for  a  sight,  and  thereby  a 
share  in  the  disgraceful  buffoonery.  Such  was  not 
the  command  of  God  to  W5,  Cohen,  when  he  forbade 
our  even  inquiring  how  other  nations  served  their 
gods,  or  taking  their  names  into  our  mouths.  How 
gracious,  how  beautifully  calculated  to  secure  his  peo- 
ple from  all  error  is  the  law  of  the  Lord,  delivered  by 
Moses  unto  our  fathers !' 

"^  '  I'll  tell  you  what.  Da  Costa,'  said  Alick,  '  Ever 
since  I  learned  to  look  into  the  Scriptures,  I  feel  like 
a  person  who,  having  always  hobbled  about  on  two 
lame  legs,  suddenly  finds  a  strong  staff  put  into  his 
hands,  by  means  of  which  he  may  get  cheerily  along. 
In  every  word  there  is  something  one  may  lean  upon 
as  a  sure  support ;  and  as  yet  I  have  met  with  nothing 
that  wants  explaining  by  man — I  seem  to  understand 


328 

it  all,  as  a  familiar  discourse  addressed  to  myself. 
Every  thing  suits  me.' 

Da  Costa  made  no  reply.  Presently  they  arrived 
at  a  cluster  of  low  buildings,  in  appearance  mere  dead 
walls,  piled  together ;  but  here  they  alighted,  and 
were  soon  joined  by  a  small  party  of  Arabs  whose 
garb  and  aspect  were  much  ruder  than  any  that  Alick 
had  yet  seen.  A  large  cumbrous  garment  of  rough 
hair  enveloped  their  persons,  from  beneath  which 
gleamed  weapons  of  various  kinds.  Their  heads  were 
wrapped  in  shawls,  so  disposed  as  to  cover  the  neck 
and  brow  ;  and  the  faces  that  looked  out  from  the 
midst  of  their  uncouth  drapery  were  perfectly  in  keep- 
ing with  the  costume.  He  who  appeared  as  their 
chief,  or  leader,  was  the  least  prepossessing  among  a 
party  of  five,  whose  general  character  was  repulsive- 
ness  itself  After  some  private  conversation  with  this 
man,  Da  Costa  returned  to  Alick,  and  asked  him 
whether  he  thought  he  could  make  himself  at  home 
in  a  dress  like  those  he  saw  before  him  ? 

*  I  have  no  objection  ;  but  certainly  our  pale  skins 
will  discover  us,  if  a  disguise  is  what  you  aim  at,  un- 
less we  contrive  to  tint  them.' 

^  That  is  easily  done,'  answered  the  other :  and  in 
a  very  short  time  they  were  so  transformed  that  Alick 
would  not  have  recognized  himself  any  more  than  he 
could  his  companion,  under  the  complete  metamor- 
phosis that  had  taken  place.  His  naturally  mirthful 
spirits  rose  to  their  former  pitch,  while  surveying  Da 
Costa,  whose  grave,  anxious  face  heightened  the  con- 
trast with  his  former  self — ^  My  dear  fellow  !  what  a 
paragraph  for  the   Morning  Post  we  should  furnish ! 


329 

It  was  worth  some  pains-taking  to  become  such  ac- 
compUshed  masqueraders.' 

Da  Costa  smiled  as  he  looked  on  him,  and  said, 
*  Would  Esther  acknowledge  us  now !' 

^Esther?  what,  my  cousin  Esther?  why  1  never 
named  her  to  you  !' 

^  No,  hut  others  have  done  so :  and  now,  Alick 
since  we  are  embarked  in  an  enterprise  of  consider- 
able difficulty  and  some  danger,  I  may  as  well  give 
poor  Wilhelm  a  sort  of  claim  on  your  now  gratuitous 
sympathy,  by  telling  you  that  in  aiding  to  rescue 
him  you  will  confer  a  boon  on  Esther,  such  as  her 
inmost  heart  will  acknowledge  to  the  end  of  her 
days.' 

'  I'll  stick  at  nothing  to  do  that:^  exclaimed  Alick 
with  energy.  '  Poor  dear  Esther  !  many  a  sigh  has 
my  perverse  liberalism  caused  her,  and  many  an  iJl- 
natured  thing  have  I  said  and  done  to  cross*her  de- 
voted attachment  to  the  faith  of  her  fathers.  I  want- 
ed no  spur  in  this  matter :  but  if  she,  dear  girl,  takes 
the  interest  you  seem  to  imply  in  Wilhelm,  it  will 
prove  a  sharp  one  to  my  zeal  in  this  cause.' 

*  They  have  long  been  attached,  and  indeed  be- 
trothed, secretly.' 

^  But  Wilhelm  did  not  visit  at  our  house.' 
'  No :    Esther  passed  some    months  in   Germany 
among  his  friends.' 

*  I  remember  it :  and  also  that  she  brought  home 
thence  a  copy  of  the  law  and  of  the  prophets,  which 
I   often   detected  her  studying  so  profoundly  that  I 

used  to  banter  her  upon  it :   I  knew  no  better  then.' 

28* 


'i- 


330 

*  Well,  we  must  now  proceed  ;  my  worthy  friend 
Sheikh  Abdalla  looks  impatient.' 

On  hearing  himself  named,  the  leader  approached, 
and  Da  Costa  inquired  in  what  mode  they  should 
travel.  Camels  were  named,  at  which  Ahck  peti- 
tioned for  a  horse,  or  at  least  a  mule,  but  was  told 
they  must  be  satisfied  with  camels  until  they  had 
made  some  progress  on  the  route. 

'  I  don't  like  that  fellow  at  all,'  muttered  Ahck  to 
his  friend,  ^  and  I  wish  you  would  insist  on  our  being 
so  mounted  as  to  admit  of  acting  in  self-defence,  if 
called  on.  With  this  whimsical  dress,  and  astride  on 
one  of  those  long-necked  hunchbacks,  with  his  intel- 
lectual face,  and  discomposing  trot,  I  shall  be  as  help- 
less as  a  babe  in  the  cradle.' 

'  Oh,  never  fear ;  our  companions  are  friendly  and 
will  take  good  care  of  us.' 

'  I'd  rather  by  half  take  care  of  myself,  though,' 
thought  the  youth,  as  he  suffered  himself  to  be  placed 
on  the  back  of  the  docile  creature,  who  kneeled  down 
to  receive  him. 

It  was  now  that  he  might  really  be  said  to  have 
entered  upon  Oriental  life  ;  and  the  momentary  dissa- 
tisfaction soon  gave  way  to  pleasanter  feelings. 

Before  them  lay  a  tract  as  magnificently,  wildly 
glorious  as  imagination  could  picture.  Mountains 
rising  abruptly  to  an  immense  height,  every  chasm  in 
their  bold,  rocky  crags  shooting  forth  some  species  of 
graceful  or  gorgeous  vegetation,  crested  with  trees  of 
gigantic  stature,  yet  light  and  feathery  as  the  plumage 
of  a  bird ;  here  they  might  discern  the  mouth  of  a 
cavern,  screened  by  masses  of  arbutus,  rhododendron. 


JUDAIi's    LION.  '  331 

and  the  prolific  nopal ;  there,  perched  on  the  brow  of 
a  naked  precipice,  some  semblance  of  a  building,  but 
whether  inhabited,  or  merely  a  solitary  ruin,  the  eye 
could  not  at  such  a  depth  decide.  Winding  along  the 
foot  of  this  mountain-barrier,  the  travellers  frequently 
found  themselves  among  fragments  which  bespoke  the 
ancient  site  of  edifices  now  crumbling  into  dust :  and 
one  of  these  extended  so  far,  and  exhibited  such  mas- 
sive blocks  of  stone,  bearing  the  marks  of  fine  pro- 
portion, and  elaborate  sculpture,  that,  being  on  nearly 
a  level  plain,  intermixed  with  the  richest,  loveliest, 
choicest  vegetation,  profusely  covering  the  few  ruins 
not  actually  sunk  into  the  soil,  Alick  remarked, 
'  This  must  have  been  a  city,  rather  than  a  cluster  of 
edifices.' 

'  Some  noble  city,  beyond  a  doubt,'  answered  Da 
Costa,  '  which  sent  up  its  stately  sons  to  Jerusalem  to 
keep  the  appointed  feasts.  The  whole  country,  up  to 
the  mountain  tops,  was  inhabited :  the  denseness  of 
its  population,  compared  with  the  extent  of  territory, 
was  prodigious.  Every  rood  of  ground  must  have 
been  made  available  for  tillage  or  pasturage  :  every 
hill  mantled  with  vineyards  and  olive-grounds.  Of 
this  you  will  perceive  tokens,  go  where  we  may.  We 
tread  on  the  ashes  of  our  fathers  (may  they  rest  in 
peace  !)  and  the  lonely  wilderness  around  us  was  the 
mart,  the  palace,  the  garden  of  the  world.' 

'  Was,  and  shall  be  !'  said  Alick,  as  he  stroked  the 
long  neck  of  the  camel  that  carried  him.  ^  How  could 
I  object  to  mount  this  creature,  descendant  as  he  is 
of  a  race  who  rejoiced  in  the  fostering  care  of  my 
fathers,  and  is  preserved  to  aid  in  the  future  triumph 


832 

of  their  sons.  "  The  multitude  of  camels  shall  cover 
thee."  Perhaps  this,  even  this  poor  animal  is  one 
destined  to  the  fulfilment  of  prophecy,  when  the  cities 
of  Judah  shall  again  be  inhabited.' 

Again  he  looked  around  ;  and  as  they  skirted  the 
abrupt  acclivity,  he  saw  an  upland  path,  entering  the 
mouth  of  a  defile,  that  seemed  to  issue  in  a  very  steep 
ladder-hke  track,  inaccessible  to  any  but  the  most 
daring  pedestrian.  Here  they  paused  for  a  while. 
Da  Costa  continuing  in  earnest  discourse  with  the 
Sheikh,  and  both  waxing  rather  warm.  Alick  longed 
to  ascend  the  path,  to  obtain  •  a  more  extended  view, 
but  how  they  were  to  mount  it  was  a  question  he 
could  not  solve.  At  length  the  Sheikh  drew  towards 
his  men,  with  increased  suUenness  of  aspect ;  and 
Da  Costa  rejoining  Alick,  remarked,  *  I  gave  myself 
credit  for  having  provided  against  all  difficulties  and 
precluded  all  dispute  ;  but  these  fellows  are  wholly 
intractable — wholly  unfathomable — and  I  am  fairly 
at  a  nonplus.' 

*  "  His  hand  against  every  man,  and  every  man's 
hand  against  him,"  '  repeated  Alick:  '  and  you  never 
can  put  them  down ;  for  "•  He  shall  dwell  in  the 
presence  of  his  brethren."  ' 

'How  complacent  you  are  at  the  most  unreasonable, 
vexatious,  rascally  conduct  that  ever  men  were  ex- 
posed to!' 

*  Yes;  for  when  I  see,  even  at  my  own  expense, 
the  promise  of  God  fulfilled  to  a  wild  Ishmaelite,  it 
strengthens  my  assurance  that  the  seed  of  Jacob  shall 
be  remembered  too,  in  his  time.' 

'  Ah,  Cohen,  I  know  more  scripture  than  you,  but 


333 

your  little  goes  ten  times  as  far  as  my  much,  because 
yovi  apply  it — you  realize  it — so  delightfully.  Well, 
I  won't  seek  to  put  down  these  most  obstinate  half- 
brothers  of  ours  ;  but  try  a  little  fraternal  coaxing.' 

He  approached  the  group,  whose  dark  looks  were 
very  portentous ;  what  he  said,  Alick  did  not  hear, 
but  their  countenances  soon  relaxed,  and  the  Shiekh's 
tone  became  more  amicable.  '  So  much  for  the  value 
of  a  soft  answer,'  thought  Alick,  assured  by  his  friend's 
pleasant  manner  and  kind  voice,  that  he  had  tried  its 
efficacy.  Da  Costa  soon  came  back,  and  told  him 
they  had  agreed  to  a  compromise,  by  which  his  plans 
would  be  less  deranged  than  he  had  feared.  Alick 
asked  if  Shiekh  Abdalla  was  the  same  he  had  once 
mentioned,  as  aiding  him  to  search  the  convent. 
*  No,  no,  not  he.  My  noble  band  are  genuine  sons  of 
the  desert,  different  enough  from  these  peculating 
Bedouins,  whom  I  would  not  take  a  bird's-nesting  in 
the  hedges  of  Harrow,  to  say  nothing  of  a  Maronite 
rookery  on  Mount  Lebanon.  But  come,  I  see  we  are 
to  proceed :  I  desired  to  halt  here,  and  await  the 
mules,  which  I  very  well  know  are  within  call ;  but 
we  must  make  the  next  pass,  which  is  far  more  steep 
and  impracticable,  beyond  which  I  will  stir  no  step  on 
the  plain.' 

They  proceeded  ;  and  night  overtook  them  before 
any  sign  of  access  to  the  lofty  heights  appeared.  '  I 
am  now  convinced  ,'  said  Da  Costa,  '  that  we  have 
w^holly  missed  the  route  I  was  resolved  to  take,  and 
that  our  present  track  will  bring  us  to  a  point  on 
which  I  never  calculated.' 

'  In  that  case,'  said  Alick,  ^  I  should  be  inclined  to 


SS4  jijdah's  lion. 

hope  that  we  were  guided  to  the  attainment  of  our 
wishes  against  our  wills.  Perhaps  the  wrong*  path  is 
hlocked  up  that  we  may  stray  into  the  right.' 

'  Perhaps  so :  at  all  events  your  philosophy  is  of 
a  most  seasonable  and  tranquillizing  character.' 

*  My  philosophy,'  thought  Alick,  '  is  drawn  from 
the  Bible.      I  wonder  he  does  not  see  that.' 

The  Arabs  soon  constructed  a  rude  tent,  by  which, 
and  a  projection  of  the  rock,  they  were  all  sheltered; 
hut  Alick  preferred  the  unfettered  fragrant  breezes  of 
Palestine  to  every  accommodation  they  could  offer,  and 
what  little  sleep  he  got  was  enjoyed  under  a  high  and 
wide-spreading  cypress.  His  mind  was  full  of  Israel's 
future  glory  in  that  land  of  all  their  hopes  ;  and,  though 
not  disinclined  for  any  adventure,  the  present  expedition 
had  little  share  in  his  thoughts,  save  as  connected  with 
Esther.  He  dreamed  of  her,  as  disputing  with  httle 
Charley  over  the  scriptures,  and  awoke  to  find  the 
tent  dismantled,  and  the  party  preparing  to  move, 
which,  after  some  refreshment  they  did. 

'  Well,  Da  Co.sta,'  said  he,  as  some  of  the  visions 
of  the  night  recurred  to  his  mind,  '  When  shall  you 
commence  in.structing  me  ?  As  yet,  you  have  only 
transferred  me  from  the  society  of  Christians  to  that 
of  Mussulmen.' 

'  Patience,  Cohen :  we  shall  soon  be  in  better  cir- 
cumstances.' 

But  Da  Costa  was  mistaken  :  they  had  not  proceeded 
far,  when  an  unusual  stir  among  their  companions, 
with  indications  of  no  small  dismay,  attracted  their 
notice,  and  Abdalla  told  them  he  feared  a  body  of 
hostile  character  was  not  far  off;  and  in  that  case 


JUDAH^S   LION.  335 

they  must  all  defend  themselves.  ^  Give  me  a  horse, 
or  a  mule,'  exclaimed  Alick,  '  and  I  can  plaj^  my  part : 
but  on  this  camel  I  am  just  helpless.' 

^  An  hour  farther  on  we  should  find  them,'  said  the 
Sheikh,  '  but  does  the  earth  bring  forth  horses  that  I 
should  furnish  them  here  V 

'  Two  of  your  men,  and  yourself,  are  well  mounted  ; 
you  can  manage  one  beast  as  w^ell  as  the  other — 
change  with  me.' 

'  Push  on,'  said  Da  Costa,  who  knew  the  hopeless- 
ness of  this  request ;  ^  and  let  us  try  for  the  halting- 
place  you  speak  of 

Instead  of  this,  the  Arabs  commenced  a  consulta- 
tion ;  and  then  the  Sheikh,  with  a  grave  face,  told 
Da  Costa  that  as  they  might  be  separated  in  the  com- 
bat in  which  they  were  likely  to  be  presently  engaged, 
it  would  be  better  to  settle  beforehand  what  was  due 
between  them.  The  other,  though  his  eyes  flashed 
with  anger,  as  gravely  and  quietly  declined ;  and  on 
his  attempting  to  proceed,  the  Arabs  in  front  wheeled 
round,  declaring  that  they  would  go  no  farther  till 
their  Sheikh  was  satisfied. 

A  sound,  coming  from  some  distance,  now  reached 
them,  and  appeared  the  signal  for  decisive  measures. 
The  Arabs,  evidently  under  some  trepidation,  made  a 
rush,  and  snatched  at  the  weapons  of  the  Jews.  Da 
Co.sta  had  a  very  valuable  brace  of  pistols  stuck  in  his 
girdle,  and  these  appeared  to  be  the  principal  attrac- 
tion, for  several  hands  were  stretched  out  at  once  to- 
wards them,  while  others  bore  down  on  Alick.  How, 
or  by  whom  the  shot  was  fired,  he  did  not  know  ;  but 
he  heard  a  shot,  saw  Da  Costa  fall,  and  at  the  same 


336 

moment,  galloping  at  tlie  top  of  their  speed,  appeared 
a  party  of  horsemen  on  the  brow  of  a  rising  eminence 
before  them.  Short  space  remained  for  Sheikh  Ab- 
dalla  and  his  band:  they  wrested  from  Alick's  shoul- 
ders his  uncouth  cloak ;  from  his  camel,  the  little 
package  that  carried  his  best  treasure,  the  Hebrew 
Bible,  and  a  few  prized  articles,  and  seizing  the  bridle 
of  the  beast  from  which  Da  Costa  had  fallen,  and  on 
which  was  a  much  mnre  extensive  booty,  they  turned 
ba(k,  dashed  away,  and  disappeared  before  the  ad- 
vancing party  could  come  up.  Alick  flung  himself 
from  his  camel,  wholly  absorbed  by  anxious  alarm  for 
Da  Costa,  who  was  blee(hng  from  the  knee,  but  sensi- 
ble. *  Escape !'  he  exclaimed,  as  Alick  kneeled  on 
the  ground  beside  him. 

*  And  leave  you  ?  No,  truly.  Are  you  much  hurt, 
Da  Costa? 

^  Yes — badly,' — he  was  in  dreadful  pain  ;  and  Alick 
scarcely  heeded,  in  his  efforts  to  staunch  the  wound, 
the  suffocating  cloud  of  dust  in  which  the  advancing 
troop  enveloped  them. 

They  were  Egyptians,  scouring  the  country  on  be- 
half of  Ibrahim  Pasha  ;  and  on  coming  up  they  laid 
hold  at  once  on  Alick,  uttering  many  words  of  which 
he  was  wholly  ignorant.  They  proceeded  to  bind  his 
hands,  when  suddenly  one  among  them  uttered  the 
word  'Giaour'  in  a  tone  of  such  surprise  and  exulta- 
tion as  made  his  comrades  press  to  learn  the  cause. 
Poor  Alick's  vest  had  been  so  rent  in  the  struggle — 
for  neither  to  the  Arabs  nor  the  Egyptians  did  he 
yield  without  a  fierce  conflict, — that  his  side  was  ex- 
posed beyond  where  Da  Costa  had  thought  it  need- 


judah's  lion.  337 

ful  to  apply  the  colouring  wash  ;  and  ripping  it  to  the 
shoulder,  they  soon  detected  the  value  ot*  the  fictitious 
complexion.  A  like  scrutiny  was  held  on  Da  Costa, 
who  had  fainted  ;  and  among  the  shouts  and  jeers  of 
the  rude  Egyptian  soldiers,  the  wounded  Israelite  was 
thrown  across  the  camel  that  had  he  en  Alick's,  and 
he  himself,  bound,  and  fastened  by  a  thong  to  the 
wrist  of  the  mounted  Egyptian  who  led  the  camel, 
was  compelled  to  walk. 

What  had  occurred  took  place  within  a  few  min- 
utes, and  bore  so  much  the  aspect  of  a  dream  to 
poor  Alick  that  he  scarcely  believed  it  otherwise. 
Severe  pain,  however,  roused  him  to  a  full  sense  of 
the  reality;  for  he  had  received  some  contusions  in 
the  scuffle  that  rendered  it  difficult  to  walk  at  the  pace 
his  conductor  required,  and  a  frequent  blow  urging 
him  on,  increased  his  sufferings.  Gladly  would  he 
have  endured  tenfold  greater  to  purchase  a  little  ten- 
derness for  his  wounded  friend,  whose  groans  pierced 
his  heart,  as  he  strove  to  change  his  miserable  posi- 
tion ;  while  every  effort,  baffled  as  it  was  by  the  straps 
that  bound  him,  only  elicited  the  jests  or  provoked  the 
ferocious  menaces  of  his  barbarous  guards.  In  this 
way  they  proceeded,  until  near  noon,  when  a  halt  was 
commanded,  and  under  the  shelter  of  a  clump  of  trees 
the  party  dismounted,  and  proceeded  to  regale  them- 
selves. 

An  officer  under  whose  direction  the  prisoners  had 
been  bound,  now  sauntered  by  them,  and  without 
stopping  uttered  a  few  words,  on  which  a  little  dirty 
water,  and  something  resembling  coarse  barley  bread 
was  given  to  Alick.  His  thirst  was  intense;  but 
.       29 


^ 


338  JUDAH'S    LION. 

merely  moistening  his  lips  and  palate  with  what  he 
would  have  given  worlds  to  quaff,  he  lifted  the  cruse 
to  Da  Costa's  mouth,  who  drank  it  so  eagerly  that 
the  sight  overpaid  his  self-denial.  As  yet,  neither 
had  spoken  ;  Da  Costa  seeming  unable  so  to  do,  and 
Alick  was  deterred  by  the  threatening  gesture  of  his 
guards,  whenever  he  seemed  about  to  address  his 
companion.  It  was  evident  that  the  party  was  a  most 
disorderly  one,  and  some  strong  beverage  was  now 
taking  effect  on  the  greater  number,  whose  shouts 
and  riotous  mirth  became  deafening.  One,  under 
great  excitement,  staggered  towards  the  prisoners, 
and  brandished  a  long  knife  in  Alick's  face,  until  an- 
other struck  it  aside,  and  a  struggle  ensued,  in  which 
several  were  engaged  before  the  madman  could  be 
disarmed.  Suddenly  a  movement  took  place,  com- 
parative order  was  restored,  and  the  officer,  rapidly 
passing,  issued  an  order,  in  obedience  to  which  Da 
Costa  and  Alick  were  hurried  a  little  aside,  the  former 
being  laid  on  the  grass,  the  latter  seated  near  him, 
and  three  soldiers,  with  scymetars  drawn,  stood  in 
military  attitude,  guarding  them.  The  band  had 
divided  into  two  portions,  leaving  a  space,  a  few  yards 
in  width,  and  AHck  was  able  to  form  a  better  judg- 
ment than  before  of  their  numbers,  which  were  not 
under  twenty,  all  formidably  armed.  It  was  evident 
they  were  in  a  state  of  expectation,  their  eyes  fre- 
quently turned  in  the  direction  whither  they  had  been 
travelling,  and  just  as  the  tramp  of  horses'  feet  reached 
Alick's  ear,  he  remarked  a  most  grim,  ferocious  ex- 
pression of  hostility  succeeding  the  levity  that  had 
prevailed.     He  looked  in  the  direction  of  the  sound, 


JUDAH  S    LION.  339 

and  leisurely  trotting  their  horses  up  a  gentle  slope, 
he  saw  four  men  in  a  garb  no  less  dear  than  familiar 
to  him  ;  it  was  the  uniform  of  the  British  Navy. 

What  were  his  feelings  !  Deliverance  was  the  first 
thought,  and  his  heart  beat  high  with  hope — a  single 
word  of  appeal,  and  rescue  was  certain  ;  but,  alas !  a 
moment's  recollection  told  him  the  English  influence 
could  have  no  weight  with  such  a  rude,  disorderly 
horde  ;  and  that  any  attempt  at  interference  on  their 
behalf  might  afford  a  pretext  for  some  outrage  for 
which  they  were  plainly  disposed,  and  in  which  their 
numbers  and  weapons  would  give  them  too  great  an 
advantage  for  even  English  prowess  to  withstand. 
Besides,  there  was  an  evident  determination  on  the 
part  of  their  guards  to  prevent  any  speech  between 
him  and  the  travellers.  Meanwhile,  the  party  had 
arrived  nearly  opposite  them.  The  Egyptian  officer 
came  forward,  and  a  paper  was  handed  to  him,  the 
name  of  Ibrahim  Pasha  being  at  the  same  time  ut- 
tered. This  was  carefully  examined,  and  returned, 
and  as  the  foremost  of  the  Englishmen  rode  on,  Alick 
caught  a  sight  of  one  in  the  rear,  and  uttered  an  in- 
voluntary exclamation,  that  procured  him  a  terrible 
blow  across  the  mouth  from  the  flat  of  a  scymetar. 
He  saw  Gordon,  the  gunner  of  the  ship  ;  and  saw  his 
eye  fixed  on  him,  but  with  no  sign  of  recognition. 
Forgetting  at  the  moment  his  disguise,  the  Arab  garb, 
and  Arab  complexion  that  he  had  assumed,  it  wrung 
his  heart  to  be  so  disowned  in  the  hour  of  his  deep 
calamity  :  but  again  he  remembered  ;  and  as  the 
Englishmen  quietly  proceeded  on  their  way,  a  feeling 


340  judah's  lion. 

of  thankfulness  for  their  safety  prevailed  over  all  selfish 
regret:  he  wiped  his  bleeding  lips,  and  resigned  him- 
self to  the  overpowering  recollections  which  the  tran- 
sient glimpse  of  the  good  gunner's  well-remembered 
face  had  called  up. 


^-  'fM 


CHAPTER  XXL 


There  are  few  situations  in  life  so  painful,  as  not  to 
be  aggravated  by  the  addition  of  uncertainty,  Alick 
Cohen  was  a  prisoner,  in  the  hands  of  pitiless  barba- 
rians; he  was  suffering  in  mind,  in  body,  and  estate. 
The  friend  for  whom  he  had  relinquished  all  others, 
and  who  was  to  have  been  his  guide  into  what  he  was 
taught  to  believe  was  the  only  way  of  acceptably 
serving  God,  was  in  worse  plight ;  nearly  insensible, 
and  probably  dying  before  him.  They  had  also  been 
taken  in  the  worst  company,  for  Abdalla  and  his  band 
had  proved  themselves  robbers  ;  and  their  own  dis- 
guise bespoke  a  wilful,  premeditated  identification 
with  those  dishonest  associates.  The  men,  too,  who 
of  all  others  would  have  been  most  likely  to  disregard 
the  odds,  and  freely  venture  their  lives  to  deliver 
them,  had  looked  on  them  with  evident  compassion, 
but  without  ever  dreaming  that  they  were  fellow- 
countrymen,  or  aught  but  what  they  appeared  to  be, 
criminals  in  the  hands  of  justice  ;  yet  all  these  ag- 
gravations were  less  in  Alick' s  sight  than  the  tor- 
menting uncertainty  as  to  their  present  destination 
and  impending  fate. 

That  the  latter  would  be  summary  judgment  and 
death,  was  exceedingly  probable  ;  but  Alick,  though 
naturally  brave  to  recklessness,  was  not  able  to  con- 

29* 


342  judah's  lion. 

template  a  sudden  doom  without  such  a  revulsion  of 
feeling  as  made  him  tremble  all  over.  Conviction 
of  his  personal  sinfulness  had  fixed  itself  too  deeply 
in  his  soul  to  admit  of  self-deception  there  ;  and  he 
felt  that  he  had  been  trifling  with  a  season  of  rare 
opportunities,  while  deferring  to  some  future  day  the 
settlement  of  the  solemn  question,  How  should  that 
sin  of  his  heart  and  life  be  atoned  for?  He  ought  not 
to  have  rested  until  he  ascertained  the  true  character 
of  Him  whom  he  was  invited  to  regard  as  his  Saviour  ; 
for  whether  Jew  or  Gentile,  he  could  not  enter  into 
the  presence  of  the  God  of  heaven  without  some 
propitiation  for  his  sins.  *  What  avails  it  to  me,' 
thought  he,  *  that  I  am  of  the  race  to  whom  God  gave 
this  fair  land,  over  which  I  am  now  goaded  like  a 
beast  to  the  shambles — what  avails  it,  that  my  race 
shall  again  possess  this  land,  and  rejoice  therein  to 
the  end  of  time,  if  my  soul  is  lost,  and  my  portion  is 
in  Gehenna,  where  hope  cometh  not?  And  not  only 
with  my  own  safety,  but  with  that  of  my  poor  brother 
here,  how  cruelly  have  I  trifled !  I  felt  sure  that  my 
enquiries  would  end  in  beholding  in  Jesus  of  Naza- 
reth, the  desire  of  nations, — the  King  of  Israel ;  but  I 
resolved  to  bring  to  a  practical  test  what  I  already 
know  to  be  unsatisfying,  insuflicient ;  and  I  meant  to 
take  the  same  circuitous  route  with  respect  to  poor 
Da  Costa.  What  ensues  ?  Destruction  like  a  whirl- 
t\dnd  has  come  upon  us,  and  he  dies  wholly  rejecting 
One  who  probably  holds  the  keys  of  heaven  ;  and 
whom  I  half  love,  half  dread — whom  I  do  not  ac- 
knowledge, yet  dare  not  defy, — yet  may  I  not  even 
now  confess  him,  and  throw  my  cause  into  his  hands  ? 


343 

How  then  shall  I  answer  it,  if  he  be  not  what  I 
would  wish  him  to  be  ?  and  how  shall  that  secret 
wish  be  forgiven  by  Him  whose  name  is  Jealous.' 

The  Egyptian  party  had  moved  on  ;  and  a  soldier 
less  savage  than  the  former  had  charge  of  the  cap- 
tives. He  marked  the  faltering  steps  of  Alick,  whose 
face  was  moreover  much  disfigured  by  the  blow  that 
had  cut  his  lip,  and  swollen  it  greatly.  This  man, 
having  lifted  his  whip  to  strike  him  when  he  flagged, 
suddenly  dropped  his  arm,  and  taking  from  his  saddle 
a  small  leather  case,  gave  him  to  drink,  but  would  not 
allow  him  to  share  it  with  Da  Costa.  The  beveragfe 
was  refreshingly  cool,  and  invigorating  also  ;  and  the 
graceful  courtesy  of  Alick's  respectful  obeisance,  as 
he  returned  the  cruse,  seemed  to  win  yet  more  upon 
his  Egyptian  guide.  After  a  while,  he  threw  the 
thong  to  a  comrade,  rode  up  to  his  officer,  and  made 
some  representation,  which  was  very  surlily  repulsed : 
he  returned,  looking  dark  and  fierce,  and  Alick 
trembled  lest  Da  Costa,  whose  sensitiveness  to  pain 
seemed  on  the  increase,  should  suffer  under  a  savage 
ebullition.  It  was  otherwise  however :  the  soldier 
as  he  rode  back  had  plucked  some  delicious  fruit  from 
a  tree  overhanging  the  road,  and  this  he  gave  to 
Alick,  pointing  at  the  same  time  to  Da  Costa,  and 
giving  sufficient  freedom  to  Alick's  hands  to  admit 
of  his  administering  the  welcome  juice  to  his  fever 
parched  comrade. 

How  unspeakably  soothing  to  the  wounded  spirit  is 
sympathy !  Alick  looked  up  in  the  face  of  his  swarthy 
guard,  and  murmured  a  blessing  from  the  depths  of  his 
heart.     He  went  on  more  cheerily,  and  strove  to  as- 


S44  judah's  lion. 

certain  the  bearings  of  their  road,  that  he  might,  when 
arriving  at  any  town,  form  at  least  a  guess  as  to  the 
locality  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to  make  anything  out, 
so  eccentric  appeared  their  zigzag  course.  The  heat 
also  was  becoming  too  intense  for  endurance,  and  he 
feared  delirium  must  ensue,  if  he  was  much  longer 
exposed  to  it.  A  disposition  to  quicken  their  pace 
soon  showed  itself;  and  Alick  was  once  more  mounted 
upon  the  same  camel  that  carried  Da  Costa,  under 
whom  some  bundles  were  placed,  so  as  to  form  a  sort 
of  support.  Alick  would  gladly  have  offered  some  re- 
lief, but  his  arms  were  bound  more  tightly  than  before, 
and  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  preserve  his 
seat.  The  road  became  at  once  so  hilly  and  so  stony, 
that  nothing  but  the  conviction  of  their  near  approach 
to  a  town  would  have  encouraged  him  sufficiently  to 
hold  on.  This  he  did  for  a  short  time,  not  daring  to 
lift  his  eyes,  lest  the  unexpected  jolt,  occasioned  by 
frequent  small  hollows  in  the  descending  road,  should 
upset  him.  All  his  care  and  caution  were  vain  ;  a 
blow,  part  of  which  fell  on  him,  made  the  poor  animal 
start :  and  Alick  was  thrown  suddenly  to  the  ground, 
and  became  insensible. 

When  he  recovered,  he  found  himself  in  what 
seemed  to  be  a  dungeon :  four  walls  rose  to  a  height 
of  some  seven  or  eight  feet;  and  a  small  aperture  in 
the  upper  part  of  one  of  them  afforded  light  enough  to 
scan  the  dimensions  of  the  cell,  which  was  miserably 
small.  The  first  sound  that  caught  bis  ear  was  of 
some  quick,  heavy  gasps,  as  of  one  breathing  in  great 
pain ;  he  uttered  the  name  of  Da  Costa,  and  was  an- 


345 

swered  by  him,  in  a  faint  voice,  '  Cohen,  where  are 
we?' 

'  I  wish  I  knew  ;  but  probably  we  never  shall  dis- 
cover it;  nor  will  our  fate  be  made  known.  I  re- 
member being  in  the  act  of  falling,  but  beyond  that  I 
am  ignorant.  It  seems  to  me,  that  we  have  been 
thrown  into  some  hovel  by  the  way-side  to  perish.' 

^  No :  confused  and  almost  fainting  as  I  was,  I  can- 
not be  mistaken  in  thinking  we  are  in  some  fortified 
place.  I  heard  martial  sounds,  and  the  hum  and  bus- 
tle of  an  arrival  in  somewhat  more  than  a  village.  It 
may  be  a  camp.  It  matters  not — there  is  hut  one 
point  on  which  we  can  fix,  in  our  present  circumstan- 
ces, with  a  violent  death  before  us;  and  how  cheering 
is  that  one  consideration  !' 

•  What  is  it  Da  Costa  V  said  Alick  anxiously. 

'  We  die  in  Judea:  our  ashes  will  mingle  with  the 
sacred  soil ;  and  in  the  place  where  the  bones  of  our 
fathers  have  mouldered,  our's  also  shall  rest' 

^  And  from  that  soil  we  shall  rise.' 

^  Yes,  to  partake  in  Lsrael's  triumph.' 

Alick  sighed:  his  wounded  friend  half  raised  his 
head,  and  asked,  *  Do  you  shrink  from  death,  Cohen? 
— remember,  our  journey  was  one  of  great  peril,  and 
you  were  not  backward  in  encountering  it.' 

'■  I  do  not  fear  death ;  but  your  last  remark  led  to 
the  solemn  question,  what  ground  have  I  to  expect  a 
share  in  Israel's  triumph  ?' 

'  You  are  a  Jew.' 

*  So  were  they.  Da  Costa,  on  whom,  at  different 
times,  the  fierce  anger  of  the  Lord  fell.  The  rebels, 
idolaters,  and  despisers  of  his  grace,  for  whom  we  can- 


346  jtjdah's  lion. 

not  possibly  imagine  that  any  share  in  the  future  glory 
shall  belong.     They  were  all  Jews.' 

*  But  we  are  not  as  they,  Cohen  ;  we  have  not  re- 
belled against  the  Lord.' 

'  I  have  ;  many  a  day,  and  every  day,  and  it  is  use- 
less to  blind  myself  to  the  fact.  1  have  not  fulfilled 
the  law :  I  have  not  refrained  my  foot  from  the  sab- 
bath, neither  have  I  honoured  my  parents,  neither 
have  I  forborne  to  covet.  In  my  heart  I  have  set  up 
idols ;  and  I  have  taken  the  name  of  the  Most  High 
in  vain.* 

'  There  is  no  man  but  must  plead  guilty  to  some 
of  these  things,'  remarked  Da  Costa. 

'  No  :  therefore  all  men  need  to  bring  with  them 
something  wherewith  to  propitiate  the  Lord:  and 
what  have  I  to  bring  V 

^  A  repentant  heart,  dear  Alick.' 

'But  if  penitence  alone  would  suffice,  wherefore 
were  the  sacrifices  instituted?-  Why  was  such  an  im- 
mense burden  of  ceremonial  usages  laid  on  our  fathers  ? 
and  why  did  the  most  penitent  and  godly  show  the 
greatest  diligence  in  observing  them  V 

Da  Costa  was  about  to  reply,  but  his  wound  became 
painful,  and  in  a  faint  voice  he  asked  Alick,  whether 
he  thought  any  water  was  left  beside  them,  or  any 
means  of  egress,  by  which  he  might  go  in  quest  of 
some  ;  his  hands  were  still  bo\md,  but  so  loosely,  as  to 
admit  of  freely  using  them  ;  and  he  pushed  at  the  nar- 
row aperture  by  which  they  must  have  entered,  and 
which  was  closed  by  a  rude  but  strong  door.  It  yielded 
to  his  hand,  and  he  walked  out  into  a  narrow  vaulted 
passage,  half  hoping  that  escape  might  be  practicable. 


judah's  lion.  347 

Here,  however,  he  was  abruptly  met  by  an  Egyptian 
soldier,  who,  in  very  good  Arabic,  ordered  him  back. 
Alick  implored  a  little  water  for  his  suffering  compan- 
ion, and  the  other  reaching  through  a  side-door  which 
Alick  had  not  observed,  handed  him  a  pitcher,  which 
he  took  with  so  many  thanks  that  his  gratitude  seemed 
a  little  to  soften  the  guard.  When  Alick  ventured  to 
ask  where  they  were,  he  replied,  '  In  the  Governor's 
prison.' 

'  What  governor  V  But  instead  of  a  reply  he  got 
a  push  towards  the  cell,  the  soldier  following,  and  re- 
closing  the  door  with  some  additional  fastenings. 
When  Da  Costa  heard  what  had  passed,  he  said, 
'  The  fellows  who  brought  us  here,  spoke  some  dialect 
almost  wholly  unknown  to  me  ;  I  caught  a  word  now 
and  then,  but  nothing  connected.  They  were,  how- 
ever, doubtless  of  Ibrahim's  army,  and  this  is  some 
stronghold  for  which  they  were  marching,  when  they 
fell  in  with  us.  To-morrow  we  may  expect  to  be 
brought  before  this  governor,  and  to  receive  our  doom.' 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  before  the  party  had 
reached  this  place  ;  and  now  the  increasing  light  con- 
vinced them  that  day  had  broke,  before  they  became 
aware  of  their  destination.  Alick's  head  was  exceed- 
ingly painful,  and  the  sensation  produced  by  so  many 
contusions,  added  to  extreme  fatigue  and  want  of 
food,  was  peculiarly  trying  from  its  novelty,  to  one 
brought  up  in  the  very  lap  of  indulgence.  Yet  all 
was  as  nothing,  compared  to  the  internal  struggle. 
Gordon's  image  was  still  present  to  him,  as  when  he 
first  pointed  out  those  passages  relating  to  the  Lion 
of  Judah,  and  from  them  preached  the  Gospel  to  his 


348  JUDAH  S    LION. 

attenti\^e  listener.  He  could  not  but  think  that  their 
recent  meeting  was  ordained  to  leave  him  without  ex- 
cuse, rising  up  as  a  testimony  against  him  for  so  little 
heeding  what  he  heard.  Again  Charley's  declara- 
tions sounded  in  his  ear,  more  particularly  that  ad- 
dressed to  Ben- Me  Ichor,  the  immediate  cause  of  his 
separation  from  the  friends  who  so  earnestly  sought 
his  soul's  welfare.  He  then  reverted  to  Charley's 
sweet,  placid,  assured  hope  in  Christ,  and  felt  how 
precious  to  him  would  now  be  even  a  distant  gleam 
of  the  ray  that  shone  so  brightly  on  his  infant  friend. 
The  day  advanced,  and  at  one  lime  a  broad  stream 
of  sunlight  shot  athwart  the  miserable  apartment, 
through  the  narrow  crevice  or  loophole,  which  showed 
the  Avail  to  be  of  great  thickness  ;  and  by  this  light, 
he  beheld  the  ghastly  countenance  of  Da  Costa, 
heightened  by  the  effect  of  the  red  shawl  fastened  un- 
couthly  about  his  head,  and  the  partial  disappearance 
of  the  colouring  matter  that  tinged  his  face,  while  the 
blood  from  his  wound  had  drenched  his  lower  gar- 
ments, and  added  to  the  misery  of  his  appearance. 
His  own  plight  was  very  little  better;  and  a  feeling 
more  forlorn  could  scarcely  be  imagined,  than  tViat  of 
Alick  Cohen,  whether  as  regarded  the  concerns  of  the 
body  or  of  the  soul. 

Towards  raid-day,  a  scant\^  meal  of  boiled  rice  and 
bad  water  was  thrust  into  the  cell;  but  even  this  was 
a  welcome  luxury,  and  Alick  saw  with  joy  that  Da 
Costa  was  evidently  revived  by  it.  He  had  bound  up 
his  wound  as  well  as  he  could,  and  it  wore  every  ap- 
pearance of  being  comparatively  slight ;  profuse  bleed- 
ing, rather  than  the  severity  of  the  hurt,  having  en- 


349 

feebled  liim  so  much  ;  but  Alick  dresfded,  lest  the 
want  of  proper  attention  might  produce  evil  effects. 
Yet,  convinced  as  he  v^^as  that  death  awaited  them 
both,  it  was  of  small  moment ;  and  he  deeply  longed, 
as  for  his  own,  so  for  his  companion's  soul,  that  any 
assurance  of  safety  beyond  the  grave  could  be  arrived 
at.  He  was  meditating  on  the  best  mode  of  again 
opening  this  subject,  when  the  clatter  of  several  foot- 
steps approaching  the  cell  arrested  his  attention ;  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and 
an  officer  handsomely  equipped,  a  silken  tassel  droop- 
ing from  his  high  cap,  and  a  richly-decorated  sabre 
in  his  hand,  entered,  followed  by  a  soldier,  while  se- 
veral others  were  seen  in  the  passage.  Alick  felt 
as  though  the  instrument  of  death  was  before  him, 
and  at  the  same  moment  a  prayer,  which  he  could 
not  if  he  would  have  arrested,  rose  silently,  but 
fervently  from  his  heart :  its  purport  was  that  of 
Bartimeus, — "Jesus,  thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy 
upon  me !" 

The  officer  stood,  stooping,  as  the  lowness  of  the 
apartment  compelled  him  to  do,  and  for  a  minute  or 
two  silently  surveyed  the  prisoners ;  then  asked  them, 
«  What  are  you  V 

In  one  breath  they  both  replied,  '  Jews.' 

The  officer  smiled  in  contempt,  and  replied,  '  Ye 
Bedouin  rascals,  what  do  ye  expect  to  gain  by  claim- 
ing kindred  with  a  race  more  despicable  than  your 
own?' 

*  We  are  not  Bedouins,'  answered  Da  Costa, '  though 
for  a  particular  purpose  we  assumed  the  dress  of  our 
Arab  guides.     We  are  Hebrews,  natives  of  England, 

30 


350 

and  guiltless  Sf  any  offence  against  the  present  rulers 
of  this  land.     We  crave  to  be  released.' 

'  By  Mahomet  you  have  a  brazen  forehead.  Where 
have  you  concealed  the  plunder,  the  arnns  and  money, 
the  garments  and  provisions,  carried  off  four  days 
since  from  the  convent  V 

'  We  have  been  near  no.  convent ;  and  four  days 
since  we  were  in  Jerusalem  with  other  English  tra- 
vellers ;  having  landed  at  Joppa  not  long  before.' 

^  Confession  will  better  serve  you  than  these  impro- 
bable falsehoods.  Abdalla  may  yet  be  overtaken,  and 
for  him  there  is  no  mercy.  Reveal  the  place  of  his 
retreat,  restore  the  booty  carried  off,  and  I  will  inter- 
cede for  you  :  otherwise  your  doom  is  sealed.' 

*  How  can  we  reveal  that  of  which  we  know  no- 
thing? We  are  far  removed  from  those  who  could  at 
once  disprove  the  charge  against  us.  If  men's  lives 
be  worth  a  thought,  send,  for  you  have  the  means,  to 
Jerusalem,  and  inquire — , 

^  Send  to  Jerusalem !'  repeated  the  officer,  with  a 
laugh  of  derision :  '  Arab  or  Jew,  the  bastinado  will 
compel  you,  once  in  your  lives,  to  utter  truth  ;  Dogs !' 
and  with  a  scowl  of  angry  disappointment  he  suddenly 
left  the  cell.  His  attendant  lingered  for  one  moment 
behind,  advanced  to  the  prisoners,  and  growling  forth 
the  word,  ^  Giaour!'  spat  at  them,  spurned  them,  and 
hastened  out. 

Alick  received  the  kick,  having  thrown  himself  be- 
fore Da  Costa,  whose  cheek  burned  with  wrath,  then 
became  pale  as  the  lingering  stain  that  had  dyed  it, 
would  permit.  '  It  is  no  new  dispensation,'  he  said, 
'  for  the  Israelite  to  suffer  under  Egyptian  bondage. 


judah's  lion.  351 

We  are  drinking  the  cup  that  our  fathers  drank  be- 
fore us ;  and  the  arm  that  delivered  them  is  not 
shortened,  if  it  were  His  will  to  deliver  us  also. 
Of  that  however  I  see  no  prospect,  miracles  apart; 
Abdalla  has  evidently  been  engaged  in  some  serious 
outrage  ;  and  all  that  might  otherwise  tend  to  our  se- 
curity is  likely  to  be  turned  against  us.  Our  disguise 
must  appear  a  means  of  aiding  in  his  evil  deeds,  that 
we  may  also  partake  in  the  spoil ;  and  they  will  tor- 
ture us  to  divulge  what  we  are  wholly  ignorant  of, 
then  put  us  to  death  in  revenge  for  our  silence.' 

*  I  don't  doubt  it,'  answered  Alick,  quietly. 

'  And  I  have  brought  you  to  this,  Cohen  !  I,  who 
w^ould  have  promoted  your  welfare  before  my  own, 
am  your  murderer.' 

'  Not  so,  dear  Da  Costa :  we  both  exposed  ourselves 
to  peril  for  another's  sake.  Do  you  remember  little 
Charley's  prophetic  words,  "  We  ought  to  lay  down 
our  lives  for  the  brethren  ?"  ' 

^  Prophetic,  indeed,  and  soon  accomplished.' 

^  I  know,'  said  Alick,  whose  thoughts  and  feelings 
were  now  beyond  his  control,  '  I  know  exactly  the 
principle  on  which  that  beautiful  precept  is  grounded. 
Looking  to  one  who  laid  down  his  life  for  his  enemies, 
how  it  shames  our  selfishness,  constraining  us  to  feel 
— surely,  surely  we  can  at  least  lay  down  our  lives  for 
those  who  are  our  brethren  !'  Then,  before  his  friend 
could  reply,  he  added,  with  increased  earnestness, '  Da 
Costa,  I  felt  no  anger  when  that  Egyptian  spat  on 
me  and  spurned  me ;  such  an  insult  would,  not  long 
since,  have  made  me  fell  any  man  to  the  earth, 
though  backed  by   a  thousand   troops,  ere    a  hand 


352  judah's  lion. 

could  be  raised  to  defend  him ;  but  I  thought,  eveli 
then  I  thought  of  Jesus,  who  suffered,  oh,  how  much 
more  !  for  sinners.  His  Spirit  was  with  me,  and  I 
forgave  the  trespass,  even  as  I  hope  my  trespasses 
are  forgiven.' 

Da  Costa  tliought  that  either  his  own  or  his  com- 
panion's mind  must  be  wandering ;  he  looked  at  him 
in  silent  astonishment,  and  Alick  resumed.  '  The  Lion 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah  is  to  those  who  resist  him  a  lion 
indeed,  terrible  in  his  strength,  able  to  destroy,  and  no 
man  shall  stand  before  him :  but  to  others  he  is  a 
lamb,  a  slain  lamb,  merciful  and  meek,  able .  to  save. 
I  see  the  twofold  character  in  Him  united,  and  I  can, 
yes  I  can,  believe !' 

'  Believe  what  ?'  asked  Da  Costa. 

^  I  believe  with  all  my  heart,  with  all  my  soul,  that 
Jesus  of  Nazareth  is  the  Son  of  God.' 

*  This  is  sheer  madness ;  you  had  no  such  belief  a 
day  or  two  since;  and  not  a  word  have  you  heard,  or 
read,  not  a  single  thing  has  come  in  your  way,  to 
cause  this  sudden  change.  You  will  go  near  to  make 
me  a  believer  in  the  pretended  sorcery  of  these  Egyp- 
tians. Say  no  more  now,  but  compose  your  mind  ; 
my  poor  boy,  you  will  have  enough  to  try  its  strength 
by  and  by.' 

'  I  never  was  so  composed  as  I  now  am  ;  and  I  fear 
no  trial,  since  I  have  committed  my  cause  to  one  who 
is  able  to  maintain  both  it  and  me.  Oh,  Da  Costa  ! 
what  I  now  feel  is  a  foretaste  of  heaven  itself — such 
a  peace,  such  a  calm,  such  a  joy !  Methinks  I  do 
long  for  the  stroke  that  shall  send  me ' 

'To  Gehenna!'  exclaimed  Da  Costa,  vehemently, 


353 

Wretched  boy,  do  you  dare  to  apostatize?  do  you 
fling  from  you  the  priceless  privileges  of  the  holy 
seed  ?  Recreant,  do  you  cease  to  be  a  Jew?' 

^  No,  God  forbid !  I  do  but  add  to  the  law  that 
Moses  gave,  the  faith  that  Moses  held.  Cease  to  be 
a  Jew !  when  on  my  soul  first  beams  the  joy  of  ac- 
knowledging the  Messiah  of  Israel,  who  shall  come  to 
reign,  even  as  already  he  has  come  to  suffer.  No,  I 
believe  that  no  soul  can  perish  while  trusting  in  Him, 
who  has  said,  ''  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all 
the  ends  of  the  earth,"  but  Israel  is  His  first-born ; 
and  in  Israel  above  all  others  will  He  be  glorified.  I 
would  not  cut  myself  ofi'  from  Israel.' 

'  Nevertheless,  sir,  you  do,  if  there  be  any  meaning 
in  what  you  now  rave.  The  mere  act  of  which  you 
are  now  guilty,  the  going  after  other  gods,  whom  your 
fathers  have  not  known,  cuts  you  ofi";  and  were  we 
not  dispersed,  desolate,  and  unable  to  fulfil  the  re- 
quirements of  our  most  holy  law,  you  would  be  put  to 
death,  as  a  warning  to  others.' 

*  Why  should  you  speak  so  harshly  to  me.  Da  Costa, 
seeing  that  we  are  both  about  to  appear  before  the 
righteous  judge  of  men  ?  A  few  hours,  a  few  minutes 
may  be  the  limit  of  our  mortal  lives ;  before  the  sun 
goes  down,  we  may  be,  and  probably  we  shall  be,  in 
the  eternal  world.  Realize,  if  you  can,  the  awful 
transition  from  all  outward,  and  now  visible  things, 
into  the  dazzling  presence  of  the  Most  High,  to  whom 
are  known  all  our  deeds,  our  words,  our  thoughts,  from 
the  dawn  of  reason  to  this  hour;  remember  you  are  a 
sinner,  and  remember  too  that  under  our  holy  law,  no 
sin,  however  trivial  in  man's  sight,  is  absolved  with- 

30* 


354 

out  the  offering  of  some  sacrificial  atonement ;  and 
what  have  you  to  offer?  What  have  you  to  plead? 
For  myselfj  I  have  this  to  say — I  know  that,  from  the 
beginning,  God  commanded  sacrifices,  connecting 
with  them  the  belief  in  an  atonement,  which  it  was 
not  in  their  nature  to  afford ;  that,  having  chosen 
Israel  to  himself,  he  gave  them  a  more  particular  law, 
and  set  apart  one  especial  place  where  alone  those 
sacrifices  should  be  offered  up  ;  that  at  a  time  clearly 
foretold,  he  sent  One  into  the  world,  who,  being  both 
God  and  man,  was  perfectly  without  sin,  and  who  was 
offered  up,  in  a  bloody  and  cruel  death,  at  the  very 
place  so  set  apart  for  acceptable  sacrifice,  and  which 
almost  immediately  afterwards  became,  and  to  this 
day  continues,  inaccessible  to  any  of  the  race.  In  him 
also  I  see  every  prophesy  fulfilled  ;  and  I  now  know 
by  blessed  experience.  He  hears  and  answers  prayer, 
and  enlightens  the  dark  eye,  and  satisfies  the  hungry 
soul.  He  has  invited  me :  I  have  come  to  Him,  and 
by  the  issue  of  this  plea  I  will  abide.' 

^  I  will  talk  no  more  to  you ;'  said  Da  Costa,  turn- 
ing to  the  wall,  against  which  he  lay  with  his  fore- 
head pressed,  writhing  with  bodily  and  mental  an- 
guish, while  Alick,  in  tender  pity,  secretly  prayed  for 
him. 

A  scanty  supply  of  the  same  coarse  sustenance  war 
handed  into  the  cell  at  sunset,  and  from  this  it  ap- 
peared, that  their  doom  was  postponed  at  least  till  the 
morrow.  Alick  mentioned  this  to  Da  Costa,  and 
pressed  him  to  take  some  of  the  food ;  but  with  a  look 
in  which  pride  and  rebuke  strove  with  the  languor  of 
exhaustion,  he  replied,  ^  I  cannot  eat  with  you.' 


judah's  HON.  355 

'  Neither  need  you,'  answered  Alick,  mildly.  ^  I 
have  not  touched  this,  only  the  vessel  that  contains 
it :  I  will  not  partake,  for  indeed  I  do  not  need  it ; 
but  you  are  faint  and  feverish,  and  I,  alas !  have 
aggravated  your  sufferings  unwillingly  yet  unavoida- 
bly.' The  mournful  tone  in  which  he  spoke,  induced 
Da  Costa  to  turn  and  look  at  him,  and  he  could  not 
but  be  touched  by  the  spectacle.  His  bruised  cheek 
and  swollen  lip,  the  stain  that  he  had  himself  applied, 
and  the  garments  in  which  he  had  clad  him  to  his 
destruction,  added  to  the  sunken  appearance  of  his 
eye,  the  total  change  that  had  come  over  his  young 
life,  now  probably  about  to  experience  a  violent  close, 
smote  him  with  agonizing  self-reproach.  At  the  same 
time  there  was  a  holy  calmness,  an  elevation  of  soul 
depicted  on  the  youth's  patient  countenance,  and  a 
tenderness  of  sympathy  in  the  anxious  look  he  bent 
upon  him,  that  to  such  a  nature  as  Da  Costa's,  was 
irresistible.  He  looked  up  to  Alick,  beseechingly,  as 
he  took  the  beverage  from  his  hand,  and  said,  '  Dear 
Cohen,  think  again :  oh,  forsake  not  the  faith  of  your 
fathers,  nor  separate  from  your  scorned,  oppressed, 
persecuted,  brethren,  still  the  chosen  people  of  the 
Most  High  I' 

'  Da  Costa,  I  never  loved  them  as  now  I  do :  my 
heart  cleaves  to  them  ;  and  to  its  last  throb,  my 
prayer  will  arise  for  the  welfare  of  Israel,  for  the 
peace  of  Jerusalem,  dear,  dear  Jerusalem,  on  which 
we  have  so  lately  looked,  never  to  behold  her  again!' 
Tears  filled  his  eyes,  and  Da  Costa,  no  less  moved, 
was  silent.  At  length  he  said,  '  Will  you  hsten 
quietly  to  me,  Alick  V 


356 

'  I  will  indeed.' 

Da  Costa  then  sought  by  every  argument  he  could 
call  up  to  shake  his  faith,  and  to  induce  him  to  recal 
its  avowal ;  but  Alick  derived  new  strength  from  the 
weakness  of  his  objections,  and  remained  unmoved. 
Night  closed,  and  found  them  still  discussing  the 
momentous  point :  morning  returned,  and  Da  Costa 
was  restless,  yet  taciturn,  and  seemingly  revolving  in 
his  mind  some  things  that  greatly  discomposed  him. 
Alick  on  the  contrary  was  radiant  with  hope  and  joy, 
strengthened  by  prayer,  and  marvelling  how  he  could 
so  long  himself  have  resisted  the  truths  that  he  had 
been  enabled  to  set  forth  to  his  friend.  It  was  not 
until  near  noon,  that  the  door  of  their  prison  was 
opened,  and  the  usual  tasteless  mess  handed  in,  of 
which  Da  Costa  insisted  that  Alick  should  freely  par- 
take, saying,  '  Prepared  as  it  has  been  by  the  unclean 
and  abominable,  I  see  not  how  it  can  contract  farther 
defilement.  If  there  be  sin  in  it,  let  it  be  counted  as 
one  of  those  unhappily  anavoidable  things  for  which, 
by  the  inscrutable  decree  of  God,  no  means  of  purifi- 
cation are  left  to  our  race.' 

*  Whatever  sin  I  commit,'  said  Alick,  '  and  truly  I 
sin  every  hour,  let  it  be  washed  away  in  the  blood 
shed  to  redeem  my  soul !  I  plead  the  atoning  sacri- 
fice, ever  present,  ever  available  to  faith ;  ever  well- 
pleasing  to  God.' 

Shortly  after  this,  the  same  officer  who  had  visited 
them  the  preceding  day  entered  ;  and  ordered  Alick 
to  follow  him.  '  God  be  with  you  !'  exclaimed  the 
youth,  as  he  grasped  Da  Costa's  hand,  but  no  more 
could  he  add,  being  violently   pulled  away  by  two 


357 

soldiers.  They  had  scarcely  entered  the  long  passage 
when  a  messenger  met  them,  acquainting  the  officer 
that  the  governor  had  entered  on  an  investigation 
likely  to  last  for  an  hour ;  but  he  replied,  ^  Lead  on  : 
this  young  dog  of  a  robber  shall  not  return  to  concert 
a  story  with  the  other.  They  did  not  expect  to  be 
examined  separately.' 

Accordingly  they  proceeded,  and  Alick  found  that 
after  passing  through  various  covered  passages,  they 
were  ascending  to  the  roof  of  what  seemed  a  spacious 
house.  Stiffened  by  bruises  and  cramped  by  the  con- 
finement he  had  undergone,  he  found  it  difficult  to 
mount  the  steep  stairs  of  rugged  stone  :  but  once  on 
the  top,  he  saw,  beneath  an  awning,  an  elderly  man, 
splendidly  habited,  smoking  his  pipe,  and  hearing  the 
particulars  of  a  dispute  between  two  ecclesiastics, 
which  had  led  to  an  affiray.  Alick  was  surprised  at 
the  number  of  individuals  who  found  space  to  stand 
there  in  groups  ;  and  not  a  little  dazzled  and  overcome 
by  the  blaze  of  the  day.  He  was  ordered  to  stand 
aside,  and  roughly  pushed  by  his  guard  to  a  corner  of 
the  parapet,  whence  he  looked  down,  looked  round, 
and  then,  clasping  his  hands  over  his  eyes,  murmured, 
'  This  is  Egyptian  sorcery  !' 

But  again  he  gazed,  and  rich,  full,  overpowering 
was  the  flood  of  delight  that  seemed  to  roll  in  upon 
his  very  soul :  he  was  in  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  his 
fathers,  the  city  of  his  God.  There  stretched  along 
her  broad  eastern  wall,  and  beyond  it  rose  the  Moimt 
of  Olives,  with  its  gently  undulating  outline,  three- 
capped,  and  sweeping  down  to  the  deep  valley  of  Je- 
hoshaphat,  sunk  far  beneath  his  ken.     Northward  of 


358 

where  he  stood,  was  the  ancient  Salem,  the  city  of 
the  Jebusites,  and  towards  the  west  the  well-remem- 
bered tower  of  Hippicus,  David's  Castle,  while  David's 
city,  crowning  the  lofty  hill  of  Zion,  clustered  on  the 
south,  and  spread  down  the  slope  to  the  Tyropoeon 
valley,  where  he  knew  the  Jewish  quarter  lay.  But 
at  this  point  an  object  saluted  his  eyes  that  made  his 
very  heart  thrill  with  the  strongest  emotions  it  was 
capable  of  The  abomination  of  desolation  stood 
there  in  the  holy  place  :  the  superb  mosque  of  Omar, 
glittering  with  its  profuse  decorations,  occupied  the 
site  of  Solomon's  temple,  appropriating  to  itself  the 
wide  enclosure  of  Mount  Moriah,  which,  with  the 
Turkish  burial-ground,  reached  to  the  very  foot  of  the 
dwelling  on  the  top  of  which  Alick  was  placed. 
With  mingled  delight,  reverence,  indignation,  and 
horror,  he  looked  upon  the  spot,  never  before  so  com- 
pletely brought  before  him :  the  desecration  of  that 
hallowed  ground,  the  proud  crescent  gleaming  on  the 
dome  of  that  magnificent  but  polluting  edifice,  filled 
him  vi'ith  anguish,  but  still  it  was  the  ground  so  unut- 
terably precious  to  the  soul  of  a  Hebrew.  There  had 
his  father  Abraham  bound  the  unresisting  son  of  his 
love,  and  prepared  to  offer  up  a  sacrifice  vividly  typi- 
cal of  that  which  was  to  be  ofiered  up  for  him.  There, 
at  the  threshing-floor  of  Araunah  the  Jebusite,  had 
David's  intercessory  prayer  been  mercifully  accepted, 
and  the  angel  had  sheathed  his  sword,  and  Jerusalem 
was  spared.  There,  by  divine  appointment,  Solomon 
erected  the  glorious  temple  of  which  the  earth  has 
never  had  a  rival ;  and  the  thoughts  of  Alick  wandered 
over  the  tale  of  Jerusalem's  triumphs,  her  sins  and 


359 

woes,  until  all  else  was  but  a  dream  to  him.  Finally, 
he  cast  his  eye  on  the  mysterious  gateway  leading  di- 
rectly towards  the  mount,  which  has  for  so  many  gen- 
erations been  closed,  built  up  with  stones ;  according 
to  Ezekiel's  prophecy,  "  shut " — for  there  the  God  of 
Israel  had  entered,  when  descending  the  Mount  of 
Olives  He  came  into  the  temple,  "meek  and  lowly, 
and  having  salvation,  riding  upon  an  ass,"  but  herald- 
ed by  triumphant  shouts,  with  branches  of  the  palm 
and  garments  strewn  in  his  path,  and  welcomed  by 
the  hosannas  of  his  chosen  ones.  Alick  well  remem- 
bered hearing  Captain  Ryan  speak  of  that  closed  gate 
in  connexion  both  W/ith  the  past  and  the  future  ;  and 
his  heart  swelled  with  transporting  joy  as  he  hailed  in 
silent  songs  of  praise,  the  King  of  Zion  as  his  King, 
his  Saviour,  his  own  present  hope,  and  the  future  glory 
of  his  people  Israel.  Where  was  the  sadness  that 
but  a  few  days  since  had  weighed  down  his  soul  when 
looking  on  Zion  ?  It  was  gone  ;  and  by  faith  in  the 
Son  of  God  he  was  enabled  to  see,  as  if  already  pre- 
sent, the  peace,  the  prosperity  of  that  beloved  city. 
Promise  after  promise  broke  upon  him,  till,  uncon- 
scious of  all  but  the  theme  that  engrossed  him,  the 
poor  prisoner's  face  was  mantled  with  smiles,  and 
shone  with  the  radiance  of  unclouded  joy.  Of  the 
lapse  of  time  he  was  as  little  conscious  as  of  the  pre- 
sence of  his  captors,  his  guards,  his  judge,  and  proba- 
ble executioners.  His  Jerusalem  was  before  him,  in 
all  the  brightness  of  that  latter-day  glory  which  he 
knew  to  be  near  at  hand  ;  and  in  the  contemplation 
of  his  redeeming,  returning  Messiah,  it  seemed  a  small 
matter  to  him  whether  he  was  immediately  called 


360  judah's  lion. 

into  His  presence  by  sudden  death,  or  left  to  declare 
among  his  friends  and  kindred  what  great  things 
Jesus  had  done  for  him,  and  to  occupy  till  he  should 
again  come.  But  though  regardless  of  all  others,  he 
was  not  himself  disregarded :  a  superior  officer,  in 
the  Egyptian  uniform,  but  by  no  means  of  Egyptian 
cast  of  countenance,  was  attentively  watching  him ; 
and  when  Alick's  turn  came  to  be  led  forward,  and 
accused  before  the  Aga,  he  too  approached,  an  inter- 
ested observer  of  all  that  was  going  on. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  charge  brought  against  Ahck  was  soon  spoken : 
Abdalla's  guilt  being  a  notorious  thing,  it  was  only 
necessary  to  state  that  the  Pasha's  soldiers  had  un- 
expectedly fallen  in  with  him  and  his  gang,  all  of 
whom  escaped,  with  the  exception  of  two,  who  were 
captured,  and  brought  into  Jerusalem.  One,  it  was 
mentioned,  had  been  wounded,  and  him  they  had  not 
brought  up  for  examination ;  but  the  other  now 
produced,  though  he  made  a  desperate  resistance,  was 
captured  unhurt.  To  this  the  officer  added,  that  to 
avoid  being  questioned,  the  prisoners  had  denied  all 
knowledge  of  Abdalla,  pretending  to  be  travellers 
under  his  guidance. 

Without  raising  his  eyes  to  the  prisoner,  the 
governor  asked  whether  he  was  known  to  have  been 
a  party  to  the  robbery :  to  which  the  officer  repUed, 
there  was  no  doubt  of  it. 

Alick  had  some  difficulty  in  making  out  the  exact 
meaning  of  what  was  said  ;  and  in  a  matter  of  life 
and  death,  he  thought  it  but  fair  to  ask  for  an  inter- 
preter ;  a  request  that  excited  the  utmost  indignation 
on  the  part  of  his  accusers ;  the  judge  did  not  seem 
to  hear  it,  but  at  this  moment  the  stranger  who  had 
so  attentively  eyed  him,  stepped  forward ;  and  with  a 
respectful  obeisance,  repeated  it  to  him.     He  asked, 

31 


362 

*  What  needs  the  Bedouin  ?    Do  we  not  speak  with 
the  tongue  of  his  people  ?' 

*  I  am  no  Bedouin,'  said  Ahck,  *  1  am  a  Jew:  and 
I  beheve,'  he  added,  while  a  deep  colour  mounted  to 
his  brow,  as  he  glanced  toward  the  Mount  of  Olives, 

*  I  believe  in  Jesus  of  Nazareth.' 

To  describe  the  effect  of  these  words  on  his  audi- 
tors is  impossible.  Epithets  of  astonishment,  scorn, 
detestation,  were  uttered  on  all  sides,  as  loud  as  their 
respect  for  the  chief  man  would  permit.  He,  too, 
exclaimed,  '  By  Allah  he  speaks  lies !'  and  for  the 
first  time  looked  him  in  the  face,  then  muttered,  '  A 
boy !'  and  seemed  more  ruffled  than  was  his  wont  on 
occasions  of  greater  moment.  Alick  had  never  in  his 
life  felt  so  happy  as  when  the  avowal  at  once  of  his 
race  and  his  faith  had  passed  his  lips:  he  paused  for 
a  moment,  and  in  the  same  clear,  calm  tone,  added, 
'  I  am  also  an  Englishman.' 

A  laugh  of  exultation  b)urst  from  his  captors  and 
the  bystanders,  who  supposed  his  conviction  now 
inevitable  ;  and  the  Aga  himself  smiled,  when  two  or 
three  of  his  attendants,  pointing  to  the  tall  Egyptian 
officer  already  noticed,  said,  '  Speak  in  English  to 
him!'  and  with  no  small  alacrity  Alick  turned  to 
him,  saying,  *  If,  sir,  you  speak  in  the  language  of  my 
native  land,  I  crave  your  good  offices  in  repeating  to 
me  the  substance  of  the  evidence  brought  against  me. 
I  am  guiltless  in  this  matter,  as  I  hope,  with  your 
kind  assistance,  now  to  prove.' 

^  You  have  injured  your  cause,'  rejoined  the  other, 
hurriedly,  *  by  the  indiscreet  admission  of  being — what 
you  say  you  are :  and  what  indeed  you  cannot  be ; 


i-dMi'. 


363 

for  the  two  are  incompatible.'  He  turned  abruptly 
from  him,  and  communicated  in  a  very  low  voice 
with  the  governor,  at  some  length.  The  latter  seemed 
wavering,  and  his  attendants  evidently  excited  in  no 
small  measure.  One,  whose  office  it  was  to  inflict 
the  punishment  of  the  bastinado,  had  prepared  a  long 
leather  strap,  which  he  drew  impatiently  through  his 
fingers,  while  others,  by  catching  Alick's  eye,  and 
directing  his  attention  towards  it,  with  looks  and  ges- 
tures of  extreme  satisfaction,  indicated  that  he  was 
about  to  suffer  that  torture.  He  flinched  a  little  ;  but 
the  thought  immediately  arose,  '  He  who  here  suffered 
far  more  grievous  pain  and  indignity  for  me,  will 
surely  strengthen  me  to  endure  whatever  He  sees 
good  I  should  encounter.  I  have  confessed  his  Name  ; 
and  that  confession  it  is  that  has  incensed  these  poor 
followers  of  an  impostor  against  me.  Oh  that  they 
knew  what  I  know  !  Oh  that  my  own  people  Israel 
knew  it !  It  was  there,  on  that  blessed  mountain  He 
stood,  when  weeping  over  Jerusalem  ;  it  was  here  his 
pitying  eye  rested,  when  he  lamented  their  perverse 
rejection  of  his  sheltering  love,  and  foreshewed  the 
desolations  that  I  witness.  May  He  take  me,  a  poor, 
sinful,  worthless  creature,  under  the  wings  that  he 
longed  to  spread  over  my  fathers !'  Tears  filled  his 
eyes,  as  with  that  love  of  which  the  world  knows 
nothing,  he  looked  around  him,  and  above ;  the  un- 
provoked enemies  who  were  themselves  but  tools  in 
the  hands  of  Satan,  to  harass  this  solitary  young 
believer,  exulted  in  the  supposition  that  fear  for  what 
they  were  about  to  inflict  on  him  was  the  source  of 
those  gathering  tears ;  and  impatiently  they  awaited 


364 

the  result  of  their  chief's  lengthened  conference  with 
the  volunteer  interpreter. 

'^  He  was  an  Englishman ;  an  adventurer  who  had 
entered  the  service  of  Mohammed  Ali,  and  for  the 
promotion  of  his  worldly  advantage  had  exchanged 
his  nominal  Christianity  for  equally  nominal  Islamism. 
His  rank  in  the  infidel  army  was  not  high,  nor  did  he 
seek  an  elevation  that  would  have  surrounded  him 
with  envious  rivals ;  but  the  actual  influence  obtained 
by  a  judicious  application  of  much  worldly,  scientific, 
professional,  and  political  knowledge,  stood  him  in 
more  stead  than  comparative  rank  would  have  done. 
So  far  was  he  from  seeking  notoriety,  that  few  were 
aware  of  his  history.  He  was  a  favourite  with  those 
in  power ;  who  by  craving  nothing  for  himself,  and 
being  ready  to  do  a  good-natured  thing  for  others, 
escaped  much  jealousy,  and  enjoyed  a  fair  measure  of 
popular  good-will.  He  had  taken  a  liking  to  Alick 
Cohen,  before  he  knew  more  of  him  than  that  he  was 
a  prisoner,  accused  by  one  of  the  darkest,  most  ma- 
lignant of  the  officials ;  and  the  discovery  of  his  Eng- 
lish birth,  following  as  it  did  on  an  avowal  so  exceed- 
ingly honest  and  fearless,  respecting  his  race  and  his 
religion,  altogether  completely  engaged  Ali  Musta- 
pha's  interest  on  his  behalf 

The  conversation  ended  by  an  order  being  given  to 
conduct  the  prisoner  wheresoever  this  renegade  might 
direct;  he  making  himself  accountable  for  his  safe 
custody  till  the  charge  should  be  settled,  established, 
or  disproved. 

Alick  was,  therefore,  again  hurried  away,  and  to 
his  dismay  found  that  he  was  not  returning  to  his  for- 


365 

mer  prison ;  earnestly  he  implored  to  be  allowed,  if 
but  for  a  moment's  time,  to  revisit  his  wounded  friend : 
it  was  useless:  and  when  he  found  himself  lodged  in 
a  comparatively  comfortable  room,  with  a  stool,  a 
table,  and  a  rude  camp-bed,  he  looked  with  dissatis- 
faction on  the  contrast,  and  earnestly  desired  he  could 
transport  every  indulgence  to  the  narrow,  dull,  damp 
prison  of  Da  Costa.  When  the  person,  whom  ho 
could  not  but  regard  as  his  deliverer,  visited  him,  he 
followed  up  his  expressions  of  gratitude  by  an  earnest 
intercession  for  his  friend.  '  He  too  is  English,'  he 
said,  '  and  equally  innocent  with  myself  in  this  mat- 
ter. He  is  wounded,  suffering  greatly,  ignorant  of 
where  we  are,  and  will  be  miserable  under  the  appre- 
hensions that  my  continued  absence  will  occasion  ;  I 
beseech  you,  let  me  be  with  him.' 

•  Is  he  older  than  yourself?' 

'  Yes — a  dozen  years  I  should  say,  at  least' 
'  Then  he  probably  misled  you.     How  came  you 
under  the  guardianship  of  that  worthy  Abdalla  ?' 

Alick  told  him,  suppressing  all  particulars  concern- 
ing the  precise  object  of  their  journey  ;  and  Mustapha 
remarked,  ^  He  certainly  must  have  known  the  cha- 
racter of  the  Bedouin,  and  now  he  must  take  the 
consequences  of  what  he  has  brought  upon  himself 
and  you,  by  this  senseless  disguise.  But  what  induced 
you  to  make  such  a  singular  statement  of  your  reli- 
gion? Did  you  imagine  that  in  Jerusalem  the  name 
of  Jew  would  have  helped  your  case  ?  The  very  last 
to  do  so.' 

*  But  I  am  a  Jew ;  no  drop  of  Gentile  blood  is  in- 

31* 


366 

termingled  with  that  of  my  race  ;  and  would  you  have 
me  deny  or  conceal  that  fact  V 

"  Well ;  grant  that  you  felt  bound  to  declare  it, 
surely  the  other  and  contradictory  assertion  of  being 
also  a  Christian,  was,  at  least,  ill-judged.' 

'  Do  you  then  doubt  the  reality  of  my  belief  in  the 
Messiah  of  Israel,  who  here  suffered  for  our  sins,  and 
shall  here  return  in  great  glory  for  our  deliverance  and 
ultimate  triumph  ?  Are  you  not  yourself,  as  a  Chris- 
tian, rejoicing  in  that  hope,  and  will  you  not  receive, 
as  a  returning  brother,  a  penitent,  believing  son  of 
Abraham  V 

He  held  out  his  hand  to  the  renegade,  who,  taking 
it,  good-humouredly,  though  with  some  embarrass- 
ment, said,  ^  Jew  or  Christian,  Mussulman  or  Brah- 
min, each  man  is,  or  calls  himself,  what  best  suits  his 
own  mind,  whether  from  habit,  or  from  finding  that 
he  may  advantageously  depart  from  his  accustomed 
path.  I  hold  no  man  in  greater  or  less  respect  for 
what  he  calls  himself  If  you  are  returning  (suppos- 
ing we  get  you  out  of  this  awkward  position)  to  En- 
gland, no  doubt  your  prospects  will  be  much  advanced 
by  embracing  the  ascendant  form  ;  but  have  you  any 
particular  tie  there  ?  A  fine  field  of  enterprise  lies 
open  here  in  the  East — opportunities  worth  grasping 
at ;  fame,  distinction,  emolument,  in  prospect  and  pos- 
session a  vast  deal  more  than  the  cold,  dull  routine  of 
English  life  holds  out.  I  have  had  the  luck  so  far  to 
be  useful  to  you,  for  I  verily  believe  they  would  have 
put  you  to  death,  or  inflicted  some  horrible  punish- 
ment upon  you,  without  giving  you  time  or  opportu- 
nity to  apprize  any  person  of  your  doom  j  and  now  I 


367 

can  guarantee  your  safety,  I  think,  if  your  inclination 
turns  to  the  path  I  have  pointed  out,  otherwise  it  is 
doubtful' 

'  Do  you  mean  the  Egyptian  service  T  asked  AUck, 
in  surprise. 

*  Yes :  as  an  officer,  with  every  prospect  of  rapid 
advancement' 

*  A  Jewish  officer  in  command  of  Egyptian  Mussul- 
mans !  Surely  that  would  be  a  strange  anomaly,' 
said  Alick,  smiling  at  the  wildness  of  the  proposal.' 

*  You  are  no  longer  a  Jew ;  you  have  renounced 
that  form  for  the  religion  of  England  :  and  by  an 
easier  transition,  cancelling  that,  you  might  assimilate 
yourself  to  the  predominant  faith  of  the  East.' 

Alick  answered  not ;  he  was  utterly  confounded 
by  what  w^ore  so  much  the  aspect  of  a  jest  or  an  in- 
sult, that  he  knew  not  how  to  regard  it.  He  fixed 
a  look  on  his  companion,  the  intenseness  of  whicn 
made  him  shrink  a  little,  but  he  preserved  his  com- 
posure, and  proceeded :  '  To  turn  Christian,  sounds 
very  proper  in  European  ears  ;  to  turn  Turk  far 
otherwise  ;  but  with  us  the  reverse  prevails  ;  you 
must  divest  yourself  of  all  early  prejudices — as  indeed 
you  have  done  in  one  instance,  and  by  the  same  pro- 
cess you  may  overcome  a  diffijrent  set  of  prejudices. 
I  had  some  trouble  in  it,  therefore  I  do  not  expect 
you  to  enter  all  at  once  into  my  views  for  your  ad- 
vantage.' 

*  Have  you,  sir,  renounced  Christianity  for  Islam- 
ism  V  asked  Alick,  still  regarding  him  with  the  same 
fixed  look. 


368 

*  I  have,  sir,'  answered  the  other,  eyeing  him 
sternly. 

*■  And  do  you  really  believe  in  Mahomet  as  the  in- 
spired prophet  of  God  V 

'  Believe  !  what  I  believe  is  no  man's  business:  I 
profess  myself  his  obedient  servant,  as  I  should  pro- 
fess myself  your's,  sir,  if  I  was  addressing  you  by 
letter;  but  what  measure  of  obedient  service  I  might 
choose  to  render  to  him  or  to  you  remains  at  my  own 
option.  The  language  is  every  thing  you  or  he  can 
require.  But  come,  time  is  short,  and  yours  may  be 
particularly  so,  if  I  don't  take  better  care  of  your 
interests  than  you  seem  disposed  to  do.  I  shall  leave 
you  now  to  consider,  first  giving  you  a  short  summary 
of  the  good  things  into  present  possession  of  which, 
as  a  devout  young  Mussulman,  you  may  forthwith 
^nter,  and  take  a  full  swing,  in  the  gay  sunshine  of 
youth.     First' 

'  Don't  begin  numbering  your  thirty  pieces  of  silver,* 
interruped  Alick,  whose  disgust  and  indignation  could 
no  longer  be  restrained.  *  There  was  one  Jew  found 
sufficiently  infamous  to  sell  his  Lord  ;  there  may  have 
been  others — I  hope  not — but  if  the  whole  world  con- 
spired to  sell  Him,  I  will  be  no  party  to  the  sacrile- 
gious compact.  What  are  all  the  joys  of  earth  to  the 
joy  my  heart  has  known  since  it  hailed  him  its  king 
and  God  !  Tempt  me  no  more  ;  a  thousand  deaths 
would  be  preferable  to  such  foul  apostacy.' 

*  Boy  !'  said  the  other,  '  I  will  not  chastize  you  for 
this.  Nay,  more  ;  knowing  as  I  do  the  horrors  of  the 
fate  that  awaits  you,  I  will  even  pass  it  over  as  the 
raving  of  a  mind  overheated  by  excitement,  and  un- 


369 

nerved  by  fatigue.  Here  I  leave  you,  to  refresh  your- 
self by  proper  food  and  rest ;  which  is  all  I  could  gain 
liberty  to  do  for  you.  It  is  vi^ell  for  you  that  I  am  not 
the  fanatic  you  are,  or  feign  to  be.'  He  turned  ab- 
ruptly and  left  him. 

His  departure  w^as  a  great  relief  to  Alick,  who  felt 
something  akin  to  fear  mingling  with  the  horror  that 
the  renegade's  cool  avowals  inspired  him  with  :  a  fear 
lest,  by  any  means,  he  might  be  given  over  to  enter- 
tain the  suggestions  of  the  enemy  who  had  attacked 
him  in  such  an  unexpected  shape.  '  Apostacy  is  a 
fearful  thing  indeed,'  thought  he  ;  and  then  the  con- 
viction flashed  upon  him,  that  as  he  regarded  this 
man,  even  so  must  Da  Costa  and  his  own  people  re- 
gard him.  The  thought  afflicted  him  greatly,  '  How 
gently,  how  patiently  my  poor  friend  dealt  with  me, 
under  what  must  have  been  a  grievous  provocation  in 
his  sight !  but  he  could  not  suspect  me  of  the  base, 
worldly  motives  in  which  this  wretched  man  glories. 
Oh  that  I  could  express  to  Da  Costa  the  joy  and 
peace  that  my  soul  finds  in  believing  !  Yet  I  never 
could  do  so  ;  for  when  others  spoke  to  me  of  it,  as 
experienced  by  themselves,  I  could  form  no  concep- 
tion of  its  reality  or  power.  It  is  a  gift  that  no  man 
can  share  with  his  brother :  I  will  pray  to  Him  who 
bestows  it,  that  all  who  are  most  dear  to  me  may 
partake  in  its  sweetness.'  He  did  so  ;  and  his  prayer, 
embracing  first  his  own  nation,  gradually  extended 
until  he  was  earnestly  engaged  in  pleading  for  the 
renegade.  He  rose,  after  a  long  while  thus  occu- 
pied ;  and  never  perhaps  did  he  desire  any  thing  so 
fervently  as  then  he  desired  the  luxury  of  pen,  ink, 


370 

and  paper,  wherewith  to  record  the  wonderful  things 
wrought  for,  and  in  his  soul ;  but  this  was  unattain- 
able, as  also  was  the  next  object  of  his  wishes — a 
Bible.  His  thoughts  thus  compelled  to  remain  con- 
centrated on  one  point,  retraced  his  whole  progress, 
from  early  childhood  ;  and  very  many  were  the  trans- 
gressions brought  to  mind,  for  every  one  of  which  he 
pleaded  the  atoning  power  of  the  one  great  offering 
for  sin  ;  while  the  links  that  formed  the  chain  of  his 
destiny,  in  arriving  at  the  present  point,  each  drew 
forth  a  renewed  ascription  of  praise.  It  was  pleasant 
thus  to  commune  with  his  own  heart,  in  his  little 
prison-chamber,  and  to  be  so  still.  TranquilHty, 
cheerfulness,  stole  over  his  spirit ;  he  seemed  to  have 
no  care,  no  fear:  all  was  peace  and  love.  Even 
when  he  thought  on  the  condition  of  his  people,  out- 
cast from  their  country,  and  still  under  the  frown  of 
their  God,  hope  brightened  the  scene ;  for  he  doubted 
not  the  speedy  fulfilment  to  them  of  every  promise 
recorded,  and  which  he  now  strove  to  number  up, 
again,  most  ardently  wisliing  he  possessed  the  Word 
of  God — he  felt  that  to  study  it  would  be  a  feast  in- 
deed. 

Suddenly  a  thought  struck  him :  there  was  a 
grating  at  the  upper  part  of  the  wall,  forming  a  win- 
dow, sufficiently  large  to  make  the  apartment  very 
light  and  cheerful.  Alick  moved  his  table,  and 
placing  on  it  the  stool  on  which  he  had  sat,  he  cau- 
tiously mounted  without  noise.  His  hope  was  re- 
alized: he  had  a  very  full  view  of  the  Mount  of 
Olives,  rising,  as  it  were,  close  before  him,  though 
the  Turkish  burying-ground  lay  between  him  and  the 


J UD ah' S    LION.  371 

eastern  wall,  and  he  knew  the  deep  valley  of  the 
Kedron  sank  low  beyond  it.  To  his  extreme  right 
he  could  just,  by  pressing  his  face  to  the  bars,  catch  a 
glimpse  of  a  corner  of  the  Mosque  of  Omar. 

What  visions  of  the  past  crowded  on  the  young 
Jew's  thoughtful  spirit  as  his  eye  traced  that  hallowed 
boundary !  He  saw,  in  imagination,  that  wonder  of 
the  whole  earth,  the  temple  of  Solomon,  occupying 
the  ground,  Israel's  wise  king  engaged  in  the  dedica- 
tion of  that  house  of  prayer:  how  many  thousands 
spread  upon  the  overhanging  hill,  and  covering,  no 
doubt,  the  spot  where  then  he  rested,  while  the  cloud 
at  the  Lord's  presence  descended  to  fill  the  spacious 
building,  and  overpower  the  ministering  priests  with 
the  majesty  of  His  revealed  glory.  Again,  he  saw 
amid  the  shades  of  night  the  dim  wrecks  of  that  gor- 
geous temple,  seared,  and  broken,  and  desolate ; 
while  the  bold,  faithful,  enterprising  Nehemiah  rode 
forth  alone  to  explore  the  ruins,  and  mature  his  secret 
plan  for  rebuilding  the  holy  city.  His  eye  fell  on  the 
closed  eastern  gate,  the  "  golden  gate"  of  scripture, 
and  he  saw  a  greater  than  Solomon  approaching  in 
meek  majesty,  his  eye  yet  moist  with  the  tears  of 
divine  compassion  shed  over  the  devoted  city,  which 
refused  to  know  the  things  belonging  to  her  peace. 
'  The  gate  is  shut,'  thought  Alick,  '  according  to  Eze- 
kiel,  because  the  God  of  Israel  hath  entered  thereby. 
It  is  shut,  and  what  an  awful  landmark  it  forms !  At 
once  a  witness  to  the  past,  and  an  earnest  of  the 
future,  a  testimony  against  my  people,  and  a  door  of 
assured  hope  for  them  and  for  the  whole  world, — how 
eloquent  is  that  blank,  silent  wall !    The  tabernacle 


372  judah's  lion. 

of  God  is  fallen  down,  but  He  will  rebuild  it — the 
sanctuary  is  polluted,  but  He  will  cleanse  it — the  do- 
minion is  taken  away,  but  only  till  He  come,  whose 
right  it  is.  Then,  as  surely  as  the  army  of  Sennache- 
rib lay  round  about  this  city,  dead  and  dishonoured 
corpses,  so  surely  shall  every  enemy  of  our  heavenly 
King  be  slain  before  him.  This  spot  to  my  right  was 
the  threshing-floor  of  Araunah  the  Jebusite :  to  my 
left  rose  the  ancient  city  of  Melchisedeck,  the  Jerusa- 
lem towards  which  the  angel  stretched  forth  his 
drawn  sword: — Oh,  when  will  the  angels  of  God 
again  throng  about  our  city,  while  the  Lord  rejoices 
over  us  to  do  good  for  ever  and  ever !' 

In  such  thoughts  he  passed  the  time,  unconscious 
of  its  lapse,  until  the  noise  of  approaching  footsteps 
startled  him ;  and  fearing  to  be  deprived  of  his  pre- 
sent privilege,  he  hastily  descended,  replaced  the 
table,  and  seated  himself  as  before.  An  attendant 
entered  ;  a  mild-looking  old  man,  habited  in  a  loose, 
Turkish  dress,  quite  refreshing  to  Alick's  sight,  after 
the  pepetual  flash  of  weapons  to  which  he  had  lately 
been  accustomed,  and  placed  in  his  hand  a  billet,  on 
which  was  written — '  You  must  need  refreshment ; 
follow  the  bearer,  who  will  conduct  you  to  a  bath, 
and  supply  a  change  of  clothing,  after  which  I  wish 
to  see  you  again.'  The  latter  part  of  the  communica- 
tion was  less  welcome  than  the  former ;  but  Alick 
rose,  and  followed  the  old  man,  who  led  him  in  silence 
to  a  small,  but  commodious  bath,  and  pointing  to 
some  apparel,  heaped  on  a  couch,  left  him.  The  ab- 
lution was  delightful,  and  not  the  less  so  from  the 
effect  it  produced  in  removing  the  stain  from  his  skin. 


JtlDAH^S   LION.  373! 

He  gladly  threw  aside  his  vest,  and  soiled  Bedouin 
habihments,  and  selecting  the  siniplest  articles  from 
those  before  him,  which  approached  to  the  European 
costume,  he  soon  finished  his  toilet,  and  rapping 
smartly  at  the  dooi'  where  his  attendant  had  dis- 
appeared, was  answered  by  the  entrance  of  another, 
who  motioned  him  to  proceed,  following  him,  until  they 
reached  a  moderate-sized,  but  most  luxuriously-fur- 
nished apartment,  filled  with  fragrance,  at  the  farther 
end  of  which  reclined  Ali  Mustapha,  in  a  careless, 
but  costly  dishabille,  smoking  a  long  Turkish  pipe, 
and  before  him  a  small  table,  covered  with  delicious 
fruits,  and,  evidently,  rich  wines,  together  with  some 
more  substantial  viands,  half  veiled  by  fresh  leaves 
thrown  hghtly  over  it. 

Uncertain  how  he  would  be  received,  Alick  ad- 
vanced, gravely,  and  with  a  feeling  of  cautious  reserve. 
He  paused  before  reaching  tVie  table,  and  Mustapha 
said,  '  Come,  Mr.  Prisoner,  sit  down,  and  refresh  your- 
self before  we  proceed  to  other  business.' 

He  spoke  in  a  playful  tone,  and  Alick,  with  marked 
seriousness,  answered,  '  I  am  indeed  a  prisoner,  sir; 
and  a  prisoner's  fare  is  more  suitable  to  me  than  what 
is  now  spread  before  me.' 

'  Pho !  you  are  too  young  to  philosophize  in  that 
fashion — much"  younger,  indeed,  than  I  imagined. 
You  have  suffered  great  privations  too,  and  a  little 
solacing  will  not  be  amiss.' 

^  My  privations  have  been  more  than  shared  by  the 
dear  comrade,  who  under  the  additional  infliction  of 
a  severe  wound,  still  lies,  helpless,  friendless,  perhaps 
even  now  dying  in  a  dungeon.     Extend  to  him  the 

32 


374 


judah's  lion. 


kindness  you  have  shown  to  me,  and  I  shall  be  better 
solaced  than  by  all  the  good  cheer  your  hospitahty  has 
provided.' 

*  You  talk  as  if  I  was  the  Governor  of  Jerusalem, 
or  Ibrahim  Pasha  himself  I  have  no  power  to  do 
more  than  treat  you  with  a  little  humanity,  while  you 
remain  under  my  care.  So  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry. 
For  this  one  evening  we  will  forget  all  but  good  fel- 
lowship.' 

Alick  saw  the  snare  spread  for  him  ;  at  least,  he 
saw  reason  to  guard  vigilantly  against  falling  into  a 
snare  ;  while  the  thought  that  the  house  in  which  he 
was,  bordered  on,  if  it  did  not  actually  form  part  of  the 
site  of  the  temple  where  his  fathers  had  worshipped 
the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,  and  to  which 
nothing  unclean  might  approach,  roused  within  him  a 
feeling  that  added  energy  and  dignity  to  his  reply. 
'  You  have  shown  me  much  kindness,  sir,  and  proved, 
both  by  words  and  deeds,  that  you  believe  me  guilt- 
less of  what  I  am  charged  with.  My  friend  is  equally 
innocent ;  and  he  too  is  a  son  of  Abraham,  an  heir, 
though  alas!  as  yet  excluded  from  his  inheritance, 
of  all  that  God  gave  unto  our  fathers,  in  this  good 
land,  and  this  holy  city.  As  our  fathers  were,  we  too 
are  just  now  in  bondage  to  the  Egyptian  ;  and  but 
for  your  English  feeling,  excited  on  my  behalf,  we 
should  both  fare  as  ill  as  they  did.  On  whatever 
plea  you  interposed  for  me,  that  plea  is  equally  ap- 
plicable to  him :  I  will  thankfully  share  any  favour 
shown  to  Da  Costa  ;  but  beyond  the  welcome  re- 
freshment of  your  bath,  your  change  of  raiment,  or 


375 

the  liberty  of  thus  interceding  for  him,  I  can  accept 
nothing.' 

'  Well,  sit  down,  for  I  am  still  too  much  the  Eng- 
lishman to  loll  here  while  my  guest  stands.' 

Alick  immediately  seated  himself 

'  And  now  take  a  glass  of  wine  with  me.' 

^  Pardon  me,  I  cannot — and  I  will  not,'  he  added, 
with  determined  resolution,  as  the  other  filled  a  glass, 
and  pushed  it  towards  him. 

'  Take  my  word  for  it,  Mr. ;  I  have  not  the 

pleasure  of  knowing  your  name — what  am  I  to  call 
you?' 

'  My  name  is  Nathan  Alexander  Cohen.' 

'  Well,  Mr.  Cohen,  take  my  word  for  it,  you  will 
need  some  bodily  nerve  to  carry  you  through  what 
may  happen  to-morrow,  and  which  you  don't  seem 
disposed  to  avert.' 

'  Whatever  strength  is  needed,  that  I  shall  obtain,' 
said  Alick. 

'■  Whence  is  it  to  come  V 

*  From  the  Father  of  Mercies,  the  God  of  Israel,  in 
answer  to  prayer,  which  will  be  heard  and  granted  for 
the  sake  of  His  dear  Son.' 

'  Have  you  been  baptized  ?' 

'  No  !' 

'  That's  a  pity ;  for,  standing  as  you  do  between 
two  religions,  you  may  chance  to  fall,  and  get  no  help 
from  either.' 

This  was  said  jeeringly,  in  evident  ill-humour,  and 
Alick  made  no  reply,  but  lifted  his  heart  in  prayer. 

After  some  moments  of  gloomy  silence,  the  officer 
said,  *  To  be  short  and  plain  with  you,  Mr.  Cohen ; 


876  jtjdah's  lion. 

I  obtained  the  present  indulgenee  under  a  wrong  im- 
pression, and  thought  you  a  fine,  undaunted  young 
fellow,  who  would  prefer  a  career  of  honourable  en- 
terprise to  the  bastinado  and  the  bowstring,  and  on 
that  supposition  I  got  leave  to  parley  with  you.  If 
you  continue  in  this  mood,  I  can  do  no  more  ;  we  must 
to-morrow  resume  our  former  position — you  a  captured 
Arab  robber  ;  I  an  officer  of  the  Pasha's  army,  wholly 
unconnected  with  your  affairs !' 

*  But  you  know  me  to  be  an  English  subject,  no  Arab, 
and  no  robber.  You  will  surely  aid  me  to  appeal  to 
the  British  consul,  or  communicate  with  my  friends. ' 

^  I  am  prohibited  from  so  doing.  It  was  on  this 
condition  that  I  obtained  for  you  a  respite  from  the 
fate  then  impending.  I  incurred  personal  hazard  to 
serve  you  so  far :  beyond  it  I  cannot  go  but  at  a  far 
greater  risk.' 

'  In  that  case,  I  can  say  no  more :  I  had  better  re- 
turn to  my  prison.' 

^  Yet  consider  well,  or  conviction  may  arrive  too 
late.  The  Aga  holds  your  life  in  his  hand — his  word 
is  fate.' 

'  The  hand  that  holds  my  life,'  answered  Alick,  *  is 
no  mortal  hand.  If  it  be  His  will  to  deliver  me  to 
death,  none  can  save  ;  if  it  be  His  will  to  preserve, 
none  can  harm  me.  He  has  given  me  the  precious 
assurance,  that  none  coming  to  Him  shall  be  cast  out ; 
and  since  I  have  been  drawn,  and  have  come  to  Him, 
I  know  that  to  me  the  promise  is  sure.  He  will  raise 
me  up  at  the  last  day.' 

*  You  preach  so  well,  you  had  better  live  to  follow 


judah's  lion.  377 

your  vocation  in  the  Pasha's  service.  If  not  a  soldier, 
you  would  make  a  capital  muezzim.' 

<  I  know,'  said  Alick,  '  the  tyranny,  cruelty,  and  ca- 
price of  those  whom  you  serve,  too  well,  to  desire  you 
should  incur  the  possibility  of  offending  them  to  serve 
me  ;  or  I  might  work  successfully  on  your  English 
feehngs  to  attempt  it.  I  refrain  from  so  doing,  in  the 
earnest  hope  that  you  may  be  spared  to  repent.  Not 
all  the  luxuries  that  surround  you  here,  not  all  the 
distinctions,  in  wealth,  title,  fame,  that  you  may  ac- 
quire, can  avail  you  in  the  eternity  that  is  to  come. 
O,  consider  this,  ere  it  be  too  late :  look  around  you, 
and  recal  what  He  suffered  to  redeem  the  soul  you 
are  destroying,  who  passed  even  here  a  life  of  sorrow, 
and  died  a  death  of  shame.  Repent,  and  return  ;  for 
the  Lord  has  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  him  that 
dieth,  but  rather  that  he  turn  from  his  evil  way  and 
live. 

The  renegade  had  risen  fiercely,  when  the  youth 
began ;  he  now  stood,  frowning  and  muttering,  but 
made  no  reply.  A  signal  brought  back  the  attendant, 
who  touched  Alick's  shoulder  and  motioned  to  him  to 
retire.  He  proceeded  a  few  steps,  then  turned  and 
said,  '  May  I  go  to  my  friend  V 

'  No !'  was  the  answer  ;  and  the  attendant,  startled 
by  the  angry  tone,  hurried  him  away. 

Once  more  in  his  place  of  confinement,  Alick 
breathed  freely ;  he  had  not  done  so  in  the  perfumed 
atmosphere  of  the  sumptuous  apartment.  Before  he 
had  been  locked  in  many  minutes,  a  man  of  very  dif- 
ferent aspect  from  any  he  had  seen  there  entered,  set 
before  him  some  coarse  bread  and  water,  and  point- 

32* 


378 

ing  to  his  Arab  dress,  which  had  been  brought  and 
deposited  on  the  bed,  left  him  again  alone.  His 
miserable  meal  was  eaten  with  new  relish,  his  dress 
changed  again,  and  after  a  little  time  spent  in  pros- 
trate prayer,  he  was  at  his  high  window,  communing 
with  the  past,  and  realizing  the  future.  Thoughts  of 
home,  of  the  Ryans,  and  even  more  painfully  of  Da 
Costa,  would  interpose  ;  but  they  were  as  light  sum- 
mer-clouds crossing  the  sunshine  of  his  spirit  He 
watched  till  nightfall,  then  tranquilly  slept  till  day ; 
and  seeing  how  hopeless  was  the  plan  of  an  appeal  to 
the  English  consulate  from  the  sentence  of  those  who 
were  resolved  to  regard  and  to  treat  him  as  a  plun- 
dering Arab,  in  the  dress  of  whom  he  was  evidently 
required  again  to  appear,  he  resolved  to  leave  his 
cause  in  higher  hands,  and  to  stay  his  mind  where  it 
would  be  kept  in  perfect  peace. 

Towards  noon,  his  former  guard  appeared,  and 
with  exulting  looks  and  scoffing  words,  hurried  him 
along.  The  scene  that  he  so  yearned  to  behold  once 
more  was  not  now  the  place  of  judgment ;  instead 
of  the  roof  of  the  house,  he  found  himself  in  a  wide, 
but  low  and  uncomfortable  apartment,  only  the  far- 
ther end  being  temporarily  fitted  up  for  the  Aga's 
deputy,  who  was  surrounded  by  officers,  and  near  him 
the  executioners,  with  their  instruments  of  varied 
cruelty  and  death.  No  interpreter  was  there  ;  and 
Alick  felt  that  his  doom  was  sealed ;  while  the  rude 
hurry  prevailing  in  every  quarter  showed  that  scarcely 
even  the  semblance  of  a  trial  awaited  him.  His  old 
accuser  approached  the  deputy,  and  speaking  so  fast 
and  low  that  not  a  sentence  could  be  distinctly  heard 


41 


379 

at  the  distance  where  Alick  stood,  he  told  his  tale, 
frequently  pointing  to  the  prisoner,  while  others  occa- 
sionally assented,  corroborating  his  lying  evidence. 
The  deputy  gave  a  divided  attention,  half  engaged  in 
a  whispering  conversation  with  another  official,  who 
stood  behind  him :  and  soon  uttered  some  words,  which 
included  Alick' s  sentence,  for  the  soldiers  eagely  closed 
around,  and  one  of  the  executioners,  seizing  his  arms, 
commenced  binding  ihem.  A  sort  of  avenue  was 
formed  to  the  door  by  which  he  had  entered,  and 
along  this  he  was  roughly  dragged  ;  but  a  sudden  stir 
took  place  near«fehe  deputy's  seat,  the  tapestry  that 
hung  round  the  recess  was  somewhat  violently  drawn 
aside,  and  the  Aga  himself  appeared.  Alick's  pro- 
gress was  arrested  by  command ;  the  deputy  was 
speedily  displaced,  and  his  chief  enstalled ;  and  when 
the  prisoner  was  led  back,  he  saw  not  only  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Jerusalem,  but  the  English  consul,  two  naval 
officers  in  the  uniform  of  the  Lion  Isle,  and  behind 
them,  with  eyes  almost  starting  out  of  their  sockets, 
the  honest,  weather-beaten  face  of  his  first  friend,  the 
Gunner. 


CHAPTER   XXIIL 

'  Now,  to  examine  this  Arab,* — said  the  Enghsh 
consul ;  when  Alick,  his  countenance  shaded  by  the 
red  shawl  that  the  rude  eagerness  of  the  executioners 
had  so  shifted  as  almost  to  cover  his  face,  was  again 
led  towards  the  divan.  * 

*  No  Arab  !'  exclaimed  one  of  the  English  officers, 
as  Alick  pushed  back  the  covering  with  his  fettered 
arm  and  eagerly  gazed  on  Gordon ;  who,  clasping,  or 
rather  clapping  his  hands,  in  unspeakable  agitation, 
cried  out,  '  It  is  himself!  Mr.  Cohen,  my  dear  young 
Mr.  Cohen!'  and  was  proceeding,  when  silence  was 
commanded,  and  the  Aga,  turning  to  the  consul,  bade 
him  question  the  prisoner. 

This  was  soon  done  ;  and  a  little  cross-questioning 
of  the  accusers,  proved  that  they  had  no  shadow  of 
evidence  to  oppose  to  Alick' s  assertions.  He  was 
unbound,  and  a  formal  demand  made  for  Da  Costa, 
to  which  a  communication  was  returned,  that  seemed 
to  satisfy  the  consul.  Some  forms  were  gone  through, 
happily  expedited  by  the  same  press  of  business  that 
had  hurried  AUck's  condemnation,  and  he  was,  almost 
before  he  knew  how  the  change  took  place,  a  free 
man,  in  the  streets  of  Jerusalem,  with  the  merry  cheers 
of  the  young  Englishmen  testifying  their  triumph,  in 
spite  of  the   consul's  admonitions.     Gordon  had  no 


3B1 

voice  to  cheer  with ;  his  joy  at  Ahck's  rescue  had  been 
increased  to  such  overpowering  delight  by  the  youth's 
fervent  ejaculatory  thanksgiving,  which  he  ofFered  in 
the  name  of  the  Redeemer,  adding,  '  The  very  Pas- 
chal Lamb,  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah!' — then 
clasping  the  old  sailor's  hand,  he  pointed  to  the 
Mount,  saying.  "  There  He  will  come  with  clouds, 
and  every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  also  which 
pierced  him  ;  but  I  shall  not  wail ;  for  he  is  my  Lord 
and  my  God — the  Rock  of  my  salvation,  and  my  sure 
Refuge."  Then  turning  to  the  consul  he  repeated 
his  thanks,  for  this  unaccountable  interposition,  as  he 
termed  it ;  and  anxiously  enquired  whether  they 
should  not  proceed  at  once  to  Da  Costa's  prison. 

^  No,'  replied  the  consul ;  '  some  little  delay  must 
take  place  in  his  liberation,  but  you  may  be  satisfied 
as  to  his  safety.' 

'  How  did  you  discover  our  situation  ?  I  aiai  puz- 
zled to  account  for  it.' 

'  Why,'  said  one  of  the  officers,  '  we  actually  went 
as  your  accusers,  heartily  glad  of  your  impending  fate, 
and  dreaming  of  anything  rather  than  a  rescue.  Three 
days  since,  we  were  on  an  excursion,  and  passed 
through  a  party,  who,  I  believe,  had  you  under  arrest' 

^  Yes,  we  were  bound  and  guarded :  and  my  invo- 
luntary exclamation  on  recognizing  Gordon,  procured 
me  the  blow  that  has  so  disfigured  my  mouth.' 

^  The  rascals !  It  is  well  for  some  of  them,  and 
perhaps  for  us,  that  we  did  not  discover  you  then. 
We  proceeded,  and  soon  after  arrived  at  a  place 
where  it  was  clear  a  combat  of  some  kind  had  oc- 
curred, not  without  bloodshed.     At  a  little  distance 


382  judah's  lion. 

from  this,  we  halted  to  refresh  ourselves ;  and  Gordon 
straying  along  a  beaten,  but  secluded  track,  suddenly 
shouted  so  loud,  as  to  bring  us  presently  to  his  side. 
He  had  found  several  small  articles  which  seemed  to 
have  been  shaken,  or  otherwise  dislodged,  from  a 
camel's  pack ;  and  among  them  a  Hebrew  Bible, 
with  your  name  in  it.  I  never  saw  a  man  more 
moved — nothing  would  satisfy  him  but  a  hot  pursuit 
in  that  direction,  until  it  happily  occurred  to  us  that 
the  Pasha's  men  and  their  Bedouin  prisoners  must 
necessarily  have  come  straight  from  the  scene  of 
combat;  having  just  passed  by  us.  We  carefully 
traced  the  camel's  footsteps — for  apparently  there  was 
but  one — back  to  that  spot ;  here  we  lost  it  in  the  con- 
fused tramp  of  horses,  and  other  symptoms  of  a 
melee.  We  held  a  council  of  war,  and  decided  on 
an  immediate  return  to  Jerusalem,  where,  with  the 
consul's  help,  who  at  first  was  absent,  but  on  his  re- 
turn bestirred  himself  most  actively,  we  ascertained 
that  two  Bedouin  robbers  had  been  brought  in,  under 
the  circumstances,  and  at  the  time  we  concluded  you 
must  have  arrived.  To-day  w^e,  by  great  and  perse- 
vering importunity,  saw  the  Aga ;  and  it  was  to  ex- 
tort from  you  some  tidings  of  yourself,  whom  we  sup- 
posed to  have  been  murdered  or  spirited  away,  that 
we  prevailed  on  the  worthy  Governor  to  summon  you 
back,  though  in  the  way  to  execution,  until  we  should 
narrowly  question  you.' 

^  And  how  am  I  to  thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  all 
this  noble,  generous  devotion  to  the  cause  of  an  insig- 
nificant stranger?' 

^  Nay,  if  you  have  any  thanks  to  bestow,  give  them 


383 

to  Gordon.  I  believe  the  fellow  would  have  blown 
our  brains  out,  if  we  had  even  hesitated  in  the 
matter.' 

'  No,  no,  sir,'  said  the  Gunner,  ^  you  were  both  as 
earnest  in  the  matter  as  though  Mr.  Cohen  had  been 
your  dearest  friend.  I  crave  your  forgiveness  for  my 
many  freedoms  of  speech  and  action  during  the  time  : 
and  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  thank  you  for  your 
condescension,  in  permitting  me  to  follow  you  on  this 
excursion,  through  a  land  that  for  many  a  year  I  had 
longed  to  see,  little  thinking  that  the  very  indulgence 
of  my  wish  would  have  brought  with  it  such  a  blessed 
privilege  as  this,  in  helping  to  rescue  one  of  the  royal 
race  of  Jacob  on  the  very  soil  of  his  fathers !'  He 
shrank  again  into  the  rear,  to  hide  the  emotion  that 
overpowered  him. 

'  The  poor  fellow  absolutely  idolizes  you,'  whisper- 
ed one  of  the  officers  to  Alick :  '  I  never  saw  such  de- 
voted affection.  He  cried  like  a  child  over  your 
Bible,  and  would  fain  have  read  it,  from  the  wrong 
end,  backwards  like  English,  but  none  of  us  knew  a 
letter  of  the  character.  We  got  leave  for  him  from 
Beyrout,  where  his  ship  and  our's  are,  to  accompany 
us  on  this  trip,  for  his  enthusiasm  is  quite  piquant ; 
and  indeed  we  have  learned  more  of  sacred  history 
in  a  few  days  from  him,  than  ever  we  learned  in  all 
our  lives  before.  He  spoke  of  you  more  than  once, 
before  our  adventure,  in  a  way  that  partly  accounted 
for  his  agitation  on  finding  the  Bible.  I  believe  no 
earthly  event  could  have  delighted  him  like  your 
rescue.' 

^  And  to  no  earthly  hand  would  T  so  gladly  owe  it,' 


384 

exclaimed  Allck,  deeply  moved  :  *  he  has  been  mainly 
instrumental  in  effecting  for  me  a  far  greater  de- 
liverance.' 

'  Indeed  !  he  never  told  us  of  it.  It  must  be  singu- 
larly remarkable  to  be  greater  than  this.' 

Alick  felt  the  difficulty  of  making  the  avowal  to 
man  who  evidently  had  no  feeling  of  spiritual  things  ; 
but  he  would  not  keep  silence.  Raising  his  voice,  to 
be  heard  by  all  the  party  he  said,  '  What  is  the  death 
of  the  body,  to  the  death  of  the  soul  ?  I,  a  sinful  son 
of  Abraham,  was  living  without  hope  and  under  a 
curse,  because  without  any  faith  in  that  Seed  of  Abra- 
ham in  whom  only,  we,  and  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  are  blessed.  Here,  my  fathers  crucified  their 
King,  their  Messiah,  their  Almighty  Deliverer ;  and 
I,  in  equal  unbelief,  rejected  Him — Him  who  alone 
can  save  !  It  was  Gordon  who  induced  me  to  study 
the  Scriptures  that  testify  of  Him,  and  by  the  Scrip- 
tures I  was  led — not  without  human  help,  but  still 
mainly  by  the  Scriptures,  to  receive  the  testimony  of 
God  concerning  His  Son,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  whom 
I  acknowledge  to  be  the  King,  the  divine  King  of 
Israel.' 

'  Then  you  have  renounced  Judaism  ?'  said  the 
younger  officer,  with  an  aspect  of  surprise  and  some 
pleasure. 

'Renounced  Judaism?  Never!  Jesus  never  dis- 
owned it,  his  Apostles  never  renounced  it ;  why  then 
should  I  ?  To  be  a  Hebrew  is  my  privilege,  my 
glory,  my  joy.  I  am  sealed  in  my  flesh  with  the  seal 
of  God's  precious  promises  to  Israel  concerning  this 
land,  which  is  our's  by  His  gift,  and  to  which  He  will 


385 

yet  restore  us  openly  :  I  hope  to  be  sealed  also  with 
the  seal  of  His  spiritual  promises  in  Christ  Jesus,  which 
is  baptism,  but  not  to  do  away  with  the  privileges  of 
circumcision,  which  are  also  mine  by  a  covenant  that 
shall  never  be  broken.' 

Gordon's  countenance  glowed  with  delight;  the 
others  looked  rather  bewildered,  but  much  interested; 
and  the  elder  officer  said,  ^  I  doubt  whether  the  clergy 
will  allow  you  to  hold  these  things  together :  they 
will  say  you  put  new  wine  in  an  old  bottle — a  new 
piece  on  an  old  garment.' 

'  Then  they  will  say  wrong,'  answered  Alick.  '  If 
Israel,  as  a  nation,  was  to  be  lost  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  if  this  our  holy  and  beloved  city  was  to 
continue  in  the  hands  of  Gentile  people,  infidels  or 
believers,  then,  I  admit,  a  Jew  embracing  the  faith 
of  the  Gospel  might  cease,  in  outward  distinctions,  to 
be  a  Jew.  But  we  know  the  contrary  ;  we  know  that 
the  land  is  our's  by  a  covenant  for  ever ;  and  we  are 
bound  not  to  despise  the  gift  of  God,  nor  to  cast  from 
us  the  distinctions  that  he  has  been  pleased  to  establish 
between  us  and  other  people.' 

^  But  it  is  far  from  being  an  admitted  fact,  that 
such  distinction  is  to  continue  in  your  converted  state. 
You  have  been  kept  distinct,  as  a  sort  of  living  testi- 
mony to  the  truth  of  God's  threatenings,  while  for 
seventeen  hundred  years  your  people  have  been — 
pardon  me — outcast  and  despised,  a  monument  of 
divine  indignation.' 

*  Ay,  most  true,'  said  Alick,  with  great  animation ; 
*  and  we  shall  be  kept  distinct  as  a  living  testimony 
to  the  truth  of  God's  promises,  restored,  and  in  the 

33 


386 

sight  of  all  people  made  a  monument  of  divine  mercy 
and  love.' 

Gordon,  trembling  with  emotion,  put  into  his  hand 
a  small  Bible,  pointing  out  something,  that  Alick 
immediately  and  exultingly  read.  *  Moreover,  the 
word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Jeremiah,  saying,  Con- 
siderest  thou  not  what  this  people  have  spoken,  saying, 
The  two  families  which  the  Lord  hath  chosen,  he 
hath  even  cast  them  off?  Thus  they  have  despised 
my  people,  that  they  should  be  no  more  a  nation 
before  them.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  If  my  covenant  be 
not  with  day  and  night,  and  if  I  have  not  appointed 
the  ordinances  of  heaven  and  earth ;  then  will  I  cast 
away  the  seed  of  Jacob,  and  David  my  servant,  so 
that  I  will  not  take  any  of  his  seed  to  be  rulers  over 
the  seed  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob :  for  I  will 
cause  their  captivity  to  return,  and  have  mercy  on 
them." 

Hitherto  the  group  had  remained,  alone  and  unno- 
ticed, in  one  of  the  desolate  streets  of  Jerusalem: 
strangers,  however,  approached,  and  the  Consul  re- 
commended their  adjourning  to  some  place  where 
Alick  might  lay  aside  his  strange  disguise ;  offering 
everything  in  his  own  power  towards  his  comfortable 
domestication,  until  Da  Costa  should  be  liberated. 
Alick  thanked  him,  but  named  the  Ryans  as  friends 
to  whom  he  must  repair  :  and  after  arranging  to  meet 
his  naval  deHverers  in  the  evening,  he  left  them, 
with  oft-repeated  acknowledgments,  to  seek  out 
Captain  Ryan's  abode,  to  which  they  were  very  near. 
His  heart  throbbed  with  anxiety,  as  he  entered  the 
door,  which  was  partly  open,  but  no  one  was  within. 


387 

All,  however,  bespoke  the  continual  residence  of  his 
friends.  He  tried  the  door  of  Charley's  apartment,  it 
was  fast ;  he  called,  and  knocked,  but  none  answered. 
In  a  corner,  however,  he  saw  a  bag  that  contained 
some  old  apparel  of  his  own,  to  which  he  helped  him- 
self, made  a  hasty  toilet,  and  again  sallied  forth,  to- 
wards the  Jews'  quarter. 

He  found  old  Wilhelm  in  deep  grief,  weeping  over 
his  prayer-book ;  and  on  seeing  him,  the  tears  of  the 
afflicted  Israelite  flowed  in  greater  abundance.  Anx- 
iously Alick  inquired  whether  he  had  tidings  of  his 
son.  ^  The  worst,  the  worst  of  tidings,'  answered  the 
old  man,  wringing  his  hands :  '  better  he  had  died ! 
better  I  had  died  ere  I  heard  it !' 

'  Where  is  he  V 

^  In  London,  reaping  the  wages  of  his  base  apos- 
tacy.' 

Several  other  Hebrews  entered,  and  their  lamenta- 
tions, intermixed  with  many  heavy  curses  on  the  se- 
duced and  his  seducers,  shewed  Ahck  what  he  might 
himself  expect  to  encounter,  when  his  own  change  be- 
came known.  He  remained  silent  till  the  storm 
abated,  then  spoke  of  Da  Costa,  and  related  the  won- 
derful tale  of  his  own  deliverance,  imparting  also  his 
anxiety  concerning  his  friend. 

'  We  can  do  nothing — we  can  do  nothing !'  ex- 
claimed the  Jews,  in  renewed  grief — '  Israel  is  smitten 
wheresoever  he  be  ;  and  chiefly,  here  he  is  smote  with 
the  stroke  of  a  cruel  one.' 

*  Better,'  said  old  Wilhelm,  ^  to  be  smote  with  any 
stroke  than  that  of  the  evil  conscience  of  him  who  has 
forsaken  the  Lord  his  God  to  follow  Baal.'     Again 


388  JUDAH*S    LION. 

were  the  anathemas  renewed ;  and  Alick  whispered 
to  Wilhelm  '  How  can  you  bear  to  hear  such  curses 
on  your  child  V 

*  God  hath  cursed  him/  answered  the  unhappy 
father,  '  and  man  but  assents.  His  crime  is  greatly 
aggravated  :  he  has  joined  the  Christians,  and  nearly 
prevailed  to  lead  a  young  maiden  of  Israel  into  an  evil 
path.' 

*  Impossible !'  cried  Alick,  as  the  image  of  Esther 
in  all  her  strictness,  rose  before  him. 

^  My  son,'  said  an  aged  Rabbi,  '  thou  art  happy  in 
conceiving  that  to  be  impossible  which  daily  experi- 
ence among  the  wicked  proves  to  be  not  only  possi- 
ble, but  frequent  The  subtilty  of  the  Nazarene  doc-' 
trine  is  great,  and  the  hold  which  it  takes  on  the  youth- 
ful mind  is  marvellous.  It  is  a  whirlpool — come  but 
within  the  outermost  circle,  and  thou  art  presently 
sucked  down.' 

Alick  replied  not ;  he  would  have  freely  exposed 
himself  to  their  wrath,  and  not  flinched  from  their 
curses  in  the  cause  of  truth,  but  their  sorrow  moved 
him  so  much  that  he  could  not  just  then  add  to  the 
dismay  which  overwhelmed  them.  Never  had  he 
felt  so  tenderly  towards  his  people  as  then,  when  had 
they  known  all  that  had  passed,  they  would  have 
spurned  him  with  indignation.  He  waited  a  space, 
then  renewed  his  questions,  until,  with  some  hesita- 
tion, young  Wilhelm' s  letter  was  handed  to  him. 
AHck  eagerly  ran  over  the  contents,  relating  to  his 
escape  from  the  Maronite  fathers,  and  his  involuntary 
voyage  to  England,  in  the  capacity  of  a  common  sea- 
man ;  his  meeting  with  a  pious  messmate,  whose  com- 


judah's  lion.  389 

ments  on  the  word  of  God,  which  he  had  long  studied, 
opened  to  his  view  truths  till  then  unseen  :  and  seve- 
ral adventures  that  befel  him,  and  at  length  came  to 
the  part  which  he  longed  to  read.  Wilhelm,  descant- 
ing on  the  providential  course  of  circumstances,  men- 
tioned, as  confirming  his  view,  the  fact  that  his  be- 
trothed, who  had  been  a  most  bitter  opposer  of  the 
Gospel,  had  come  almost  to  the  same  point  with  him- 
self, through  the  happy,  rejoicing  death  of  an  old 
Christian  servant-woman,  long  attached  to  the  family ; 
so  that  when  he  expected  to  encounter  the  most  re- 
lentless opposition,  and  probably  to  be  dismissed  for 
ever  from  the  regard  of  that  beloved  object,  he  found 
her,  if  possible,  more  anxious  to  inquire  into  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity,  than  he  was  to  set  them  before 
her.  As  Alick  read,  his  joy  became  too  great  for  con- 
cealment, and  one  of  the  Rabbins  abruptly  snatched 
the  paper  from  his  hand,  sharply  inquiring  what  made 
him  smile. 

*  Pardon  me,'  said  Alick,  ^  but  that  lady  is  my  own 
cousin,  and  I  had  not  heard  of  her  since  I  left  Eng- 
land.' 

He  was  rebuked  for  disregard  of  the  glory  of  the 
law ;  and  the  lamentations  being  resumed,  he  took  his 
departure,  promising  to  bring  them  on  the  morn  some 
tidings  of  Da  Costa.  Alick  then  bent  his  way  to  the 
public  place  of  wailing,  where,  standing  a  little  apart, 
with  sympathy  impressed  on  every  rough  line  of  his 
honest  face,  stood  the  Gunner,  who,  when  Alick 
placed  himself  beside  him,  whispered,  '  The  officers 
are  coming  directly:  they  are  wonderfully  moved, 
Sir,  by  this  meeting  with  you ;  and  full  of  interest 

33* 


390  JUDAH's   LION. 

for  your  dear  people.  May  it  be  increased  a  hundred 
fold !' 

Before  Alick  could  reply,  the  two  Enghshmen  ap- 
peared, and  he  watched  them  for  some  time  unob- 
served, for  their  whole  attention  was  absorbed  by  the 
spectacle  before  them,  than  which  a  more  touching 
one  could  scarcely  be  imagined. 

The  portion  of  wall,  which  no  doubt  is  a  fragment 
of  the  ancient  inclosure  of  Jerusalem,  near  the  south- 
eastern corner  of  the  outer  court  of  the  Temple,  con- 
sists of  some  immense  stones,  forming  a  solid  piece  of 
masonry,  and  perforated  in  various  parts,  with  little 
chinks  and  crevices.  These  the  Jews  believe  to  form 
the  gate  through  which  all  prayer  must  pass  on  its 
way  to  heaven,  from  whatever  quarter  of  the  world 
ascending  ;  a  notion  founded,  no  doubt,  on  the  ex- 
pression so  frequently  repeated  in  Solomon's  sublime 
prayer  of  dedication  :  "  When  they  shall  pray  towards 
this  place,"  and  on  the  custom  of  Israel  so  to  do,  from 
all  distances,  in  the  earliest  times  of  their  dispersion. 
Of  course,  no  privilege  is  considered  so  great  as  to  lay 
the  lips  against  one  of  these  crevices,  and  to  whisper 
the  supplication  through  it,  which  will  yet  be  heard  ; 
even  the  prayer  for  pardon  and  deliverance.  There 
were  several,  both  of  males  and  females,  present,  some 
speaking  through  these  openings,  others  seated  at  the 
foot  of  the  wall,  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  reciting 
prayers  and  psalms :  among  these  sat  a  most  venera- 
ble man,  of  superior  aspect,  habited  in  a  long  flowing 
gown  of  dark  brown  serge,  with  a  girdle,  to  which 
descended  a  thick  beard  of  glittering  whiteness,  while 
locks  of  the  same  silvery  appearance  shaded  his  face, 


391 

contrasting  with  eyebrows  of  the  deepest  black.  A 
small,  close  black  cap  covered  the  crown  of  his  head, 
and  his  bony  hands  were  clasped  upon  it,  as  if  in  some 
strong  effort  to  repress  the  workings  of  his  brain.  His 
head  was  bowed,  and  tears  slowly  fell  trickling  over 
the  snowy  beard,  to  be  gently  wiped  away  by  the  hand 
of  a  most  lovely  maiden,  who  bent  over  him,  whis- 
pering from  time  to  time  something  that  evidently 
bore  a  reference  to  the  Temple  ;  for  her  eyes  con- 
tinually wandered  from  her  aged  companiou  to  the 
direction  in  which  it  stood  ;  and  with  an  upward  cast, 
as  though  contemplating  some  lofty  object.  Her  look 
was  the  very  personification  of  uncomplaining  sorrow, 
and  so  absorbing  as  to  render  her  unconscious  of  all 
around,  it  completely  engrossed  her. 

After  a  while,  the  old  man  rose,  and  then  it  became 
evident  that  he  was  totally  blind.  He  lifted  his  ven- 
erable face  to  the  light,  spread  forth  his  hands,  and 
with  slow,  solemn  movement,  guided  by  the  maiden, 
whose  downcast  eyes  watched  his  every  step,  he 
approached  the  wall,  where  a  crevice  had  just  been 
left  by  its  last  proprietor.  To  this  the  maiden  was 
leading  him,  and  as  they  passed  rather  near,  the  two 
young  English  officers  took  off  their  caps.  It  was  a 
spontaneous  movement  of  respect,  and  to  Alick, 
whom  as  yet  they  had  not  perceived,  how  grateful ! 
The  old  man  reached  the  place  ;  his  child  laid  his 
trembling  hands  against  the  wall,  and  as  he  bent  to 
the  narrow  opening,  deep  sobs  burst  from  his  bosom, 
while  she,  one  hand  spread  over  her  forehead  and 
eyes,  which  were  raised  to  heaven,  poured  forth  what 
seemed   an    agony   of   silent    supplication,   shaking 


392  judah's  lion. 

her  head,  and  stretching  out  the  other  hand,  clenched 
with  the  fervency  of  her  mental  appeal.  The  younger 
sailor  appeared  quite  unnerved ;  and  turning  from 
them,  encountered  a  look  from  Alick  that  he  seemed 
able  to  appreciate.  The  aged  Hebrew  continued  to  sob, 
and  to  ejaculate  broken  sentences,  until  Alick,  who 
had  just  recovered  from  Gordon  his  precious  Hebrew 
Bible,  stepped  forwards,  and  commenced,  in  a  low, 
solemn,  but  most  distinct  voice,  reading  in  that  sacred 
language  what  the  Gunner  immediately  pointed  out 
to  the  officers  in  his  own  little  Bible,  for  Alick  had 
shown  him  what  he  was  about  to  repeat.  "  If  they 
sin  against  thee,  (for  there  is  no  man  which  sinneth 
not)  and  thou  be  angry  with  them  and  deliver  them 
over  before  their  enemies,  and  they  carry  them  away 
captives,  into  a  land  far  off  or  near ;  yet  if  they  be- 
think themselves  in  the  land  whither  they  are  carried 
captive,  and  turn  and  pray  unto  Thee  in  the  land  of 
their  captivity,  saying.  We  have  sinned,  we  have  done 
amiss,  and  have  dealt  wickedly  ;  if  they  return  to  thee 
with  all  their  heart,  and  with  all  their  soul,  in  the 
land  of  their  captivity,  whither  they  have  carried 
them  captives,  and  pray  toward  their  land,  which  thou 
gavest  unto  their  fathers,  and  toward  the  city  which 
thou  hast  chosen,  and  toward  the  house  which  I  have 
built  for  thy  name  ;  then  hear  thou  from  the  heavens, 
even  from  thy  dwelling-place,  their  prayer  and  their 
supplication,  and  maintain  their  cause,  and  forgive 
thy  people  which  have  sinned  against  thee."  At  that 
word  a  universal  response  burst  from  all  the  Hebrews 
present :  they  stretched  forth  their  hands,  and  in  one 
voice  cried,  "  Forgive  thy  people  which  have  sinned 


judah's  lion.  393 

against  thee  !"  Alick  resumed  :  and  his  tone  became 
loud,  and  his  manner  most  energetic  as  he  proceeded, 
"  Now,  my  God,  let,  I  beseech  thee,  thine  eyes  be 
open,  and  thine  ears  be  attent  unto  the  prayer  that  is 
made  in  this  place.  Now,  therefore,  Arise,  O  Lord 
God,  into  thy  resting-place,  thou  and  the  Ark  of  thy 
strength  ;  let  thy  priests,  O  Lord  God,  be  clothed  with 
salvation,  and  let  thy  saints  rejoice  in  goodness.  O 
Lord  God,  turn  not  away  the  face  of  thine  anointed ; 
remember  the  mercies  of  David  thy  servant!"*  And 
the  Jews  repeated,  "  Turn  not  away  the  face  of  thine 
anointed :  remember  the  mercies  of  David  thy 
servant !" 

The  two  Englishmen  stood  uncovered,  their  hands 
joined  over  the  Gunner's  well-worn  little  Bible,  read- 
ing with  wonder,  awe,  and  delight,  words  that  they 
probably  had  never  before  noticed,  and  looking  on  the 
scene  before  them  as  something  miraculous.  Alick, 
meanwhile,  stepped  up  to  the  blind  old  Israelite,  and 
respectfully  kissing  one  of  the  hands  that  still  rested 
against  the  wall,  emphatically  said,  '  Messiah  Ben- Da- 
vid is  the  hope  of  Israel :  pray  that  our  God  will  reveal 
him  unto  you.'  '  Bless  thee,  my  son  !'  exclaimed  the 
old  man ;  and  Alick,  whose  heart  welcomed  the  bles- 
sing, exclaimed  to  all  around,  as  he  left  the  place, 
'  Oh  !  pray,  pray  for  the  revelation  of  Him,  who  shall 
turn  away  ungodliness  from  Jacob.'  '  We  do — we 
will,'  was  the  reply ;  and  blessings  still  followed  his 
retreating  steps. 

^  I  declare,'  said  one  of  the  officers,  '  we  have  done 
a  better  deed  in  rescuing  you,  Cohen,  than  we  were 
*  2  Chron.  vi. 


394  judah's  lion. 

aware  of.     Gordon,  we  owe  you  much  for  putting  us 
up  to  this.' 

'  Will  you  love  my  dear  people,  and  serve  them  as 
you  have  opportunity  V  asked  Alick. 

'  Ay,  that  we  will !'  they  replied  ;  and  the  younger 
added,  '  I  have  done  great  injustice  to  your  people — I 
fancied  Jew  only  another  word  for  something  very 
disreputahle  ;  but  as  long  as  I  live  I  shall  remember 
the  look  of  that  kingly  old  man,  and  his  beautiful 
daughter,  and  blush  for  my  prejudices.' 

^  Something  more  than  that,  I  hope.  Sir,'  said  the 
Gunner.  '  You  will  remember  having  stood  on  the 
very  spot  where  God's  temple  was  reared,  and  having 
seen  how,  in  the  midst  of  poverty,  sorrow,  exile,  every 
sort  of  oppression.  His  ancient  poeple  come  to  plead 
with  Him  the  promises  which  they  know  He  will 
fulfil' 

^  True.  I  thought  you  very  bold,  Cohen,  to  speak 
as  you  did  about  the  revealing  of  Him  who,  of  course, 
is  Jesus  Christ' 

^  And  I  thought  myself  very  cowardly  to  say  no 
more,'  answered  he  ;  '  but  I  trust  to  speak  out  to  every 
one  of  them  ere  I  depart.' 

'  Hey  day  !'  cried  the  young  man,  '  what  have  we 
here,  to  run  us  all  down  ?  Have  a  care,  my  lad,  or 
you'll  demolish  me  ;  and  he  stepped  aside,  to  make 
w^y  for  Charley,  who  shouting  and  capering  hke  a 
mad  creature,  rushed  into  Alick's  arm's,  exclaiming, 
'  My  precious  Mr.  Alick !  my  darlint  of  a  Jew  !  is  it 
your  own  self — sure  now,  is  it  V 

*  My  own,  own  Charley !  and  so  you're  alive,  and 
not  only  alive,  but  strong  enough  to  struggle.     Oh, 


395 

Mrs.  Ryan,  what  joy  it  is  to  see  you — my  dear  Sir ! 
here's  my  first  friend,  Gordon,  the  man  who  led  me 
the  first  step  towards  the  blessing  that  now  I  possess 
— the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  my  only 
Saviour !' 

Charley's  cry  of  joy  was  quite  startling  ;  and  the 
tearful  smiles  of  his  parents,  the  commotion  of  delight, 
in  which  Alick  did  not  forget  to  introduce  his  other 
English  preservers,  were  quite  an  unusual  scene  in 
the  streets  of  captive  Zion.  They  were  not  far  from 
Captain  Ryan's  abode,  into  which  the  whole  party 
entered ;  and  there  Alick  related  his  strange  adven- 
tures, which  were  listened  to  with  great  and  varied 
emotion :  but  when  it  was  stated  that  Da  Costa  re- 
mained imprisonipd,  under  circumstances  so  distressing, 
Captain  Ryan  started  up,  and  said,  '  That  will  not  do : 
he  must  be  liberated  at  once.'  '  The  Consul  will  see 
to  it,'  said  one  of  the  officers.  ^  The  Consul  has  been 
hurried  away  within  this  hour,  on  unexpected,  un- 
avoidable business ;  and  I  happen  to  know  that  Da 
Costa  has  powerful  bitter  enemies,  who  will,  if  they 
discover  his  situation,  strain  every  nerve  to  do  him 
some  injury.' 

It  was  Alick's  turn  now  to  jump  up  ;  and  the  other 
gentlemen  exclaimed,  '  Let  us  go  back  to  the  old  Aga, 
and  demand  him  vi  et  armis.'' 

'  No,'  said  Captain  Ryan,  '  caution  is  needful.  The 
party  to  whom  our  poor  friend  is  so  obnoxious  have 
lately  been  very  troublesome  to  the  governor,  through 
a  multitude  of  petty  squabbles  at  the  Church  of  the 
Sepulchre,  and  elsewhere.  They  are  not  very  likely 
to  have  got  any  trace  of  him;  and  we  must  be  careful 


396 

to  give  no  public  alarm.'  He  then  pointed  out  the 
best  way  of  proceeding ;  and  requesting  an  officer  to 
accompany  him,  left  the  rest  of  the  party  to  talk  over 
their  adventures.  Alick  had  not  mentioned  the  at- 
tempt on  his  faith,  or  rather  on  his  profession  of  faith. 
He,  however,  named  Ali  Mustapha,  of  whom  the 
younger  officer  immediately  said  that  he  was  a  plea- 
sant, good  fellow,  and  had  treated  them  well  at  Bey- 
rout  ;  but  Gordon  looked  severe,  and  evidently  knew 
more  of  him  than  his  superior  did. 

Charley  said,  ^  Perhaps,  Mr.  Alick,  now  that  poor 
dear  Mr.  Dockster  is  all  alone  in  prison,  with  a  sore 
knee,  he  may  begin  to  think  what  a  good  friend  the 
Lord  Jesus  would  be  to  him ;  and  so  he  may  pray 
and  be  taught  all  about  him,  you  know.' 

*  That  is  my  hope  and  prayer,  Charley ;  we  had  a 
great  deal  of  talk,  and  though  I  could  not  convince 
him,  the  Lord  can.' 

*  What !   did  he  know  of  your  being  a  Christian  V 

^  Yes :   and  I  am  so  thankful  now  to  have  told  him.* 
'  It  may  be  the  saving  of  his  soul,'  remarked  Mrs. 
Ryan,  anxiously. 

Gordon  sat  in  a  retired  corner,  always  carefully 
observing  the  respect  due  to  his  superiors  in  rank  and 
station.  Charley  now  went  to  him,  and  was  soon  on 
his  knee,  holding  a  very  long  whispered  communica- 
tion, of  which  Alick  was  evidently  the  subject ;  while 
his  mother  strove  to  render  the  conversation  inter- 
esting and  profitable  to  the  young  officers,  who  told 
her  what  they  had  witnessed  at  the  place  of  wailing, 
and  listened  with  pleasure  to  her  animated  discourse 
respecting  the  history  and  the  hope  of  Israel.     After 


397 

a  long  absence,  Captain  Ryan  returned,  looking  ex- 
ceedingly disturbed,  and  in  reply  to  Alick's  eager  in- 
quiries, said  he  feared  there  had  been  some  cruelty 
practised  on  Da  Costa,  who  was  still  beyond  his 
reach. 

'  Then,'  said  Alick,  ^  I'll  go  instantly,  and  never 
lose  sight  of  the  door  of  that  house  till  I  gain  admit- 
tance to  him.' 

'  My  dear  fellow,  what  can  you  do  ?  This  is  not 
England:  there  is  no  such  thing  as  personal  liberty 
recognized  beyond  the  shadow  of  our  flag  ;  and  even 
that  is  barely  available  as  a  refuge  during  the  absence 
of  the  Consul.  We  must  seek  higher  help  for  our 
imprisoned  brother  :  he  needs  it' 

'  Then  let  us  pray  for  him,  sir,  at  least,'  said  Alick. 

*  At  least !  we  will  do  the  most  we  can  for  him  by 
praying.  Prison-walls  and  gates  have  yielded  ere 
now  in  Jerusalem  to  the  force  of  prayer.  Let  us  but 
believe,  and  all  will  be  well.'  They  knelt  in  prayer ; 
and  very  sweet  it  was  to  Alick  to  unite  in  the  thanks- 
giving of  those  his  only  teachers  in  the  faith  for  the 
mercy  vouchsafed  to  him.  When  they  rose,  the  young 
sailor  said,  ^  I  shall  be  made  religious  at  this  rate  :  I 
have  heard  more  praying  and  Bible-reading  to-day 
than  ever  I  did  in  my  life,  except  at  the  church.  This 
Jerusalem  is  a  singular  place.' 

^  A  singularly  blessed,  sacred,  and  privileged  place, 
even  in  her  fallen,  fettered  condition,'  remarked 
Captain  Ryan.  ^  What  will  she  be  when  her  light 
is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  has  risen  upon 
her !' 

It  was  two  days  ere  the  scarred,  emaciated,  half- 

34 


398  judah's  lion. 

living  form  of  Da  Costa  was,  at  the  urgent  and  even 
menacing  demand  of  the  British  authorities,  given  up 
to  his  friends  ;  and  then  they  pretended  that  no  satis- 
factory contradiction  of  his  being  a  plundering  Be- 
douin, had  been  offered.  In  fact,  they  starved  him 
till  he  had  no  power  of  making  his  own  defence,  and 
then  condemed  him  on  the  score  of  silence.  They 
however,  delayed  his  execution,  seeing  that  he  could 
not  long  survive  the  rigors  of  such  gaolers ;  and  who 
shall  say  what  passed  through  his  mind  during  those 
long  dreary  hours  of  suffering?  He  was  brought  to 
Captain  Ryan's  house,  insensible,  from  the  sudden 
exposure  to  light  and  air ;  and  Alick  hung  over  him, 
amost  distracted  with  grief  He  had,  in  spite  of  all 
warnings,  fulfilled  his  purpose  of  watching  the  ex- 
terior of  the  building  that  contained  the  prison ;  but 
by  this  nothing  could  be  gained.  The  Englishmen 
had  been  obliged  to  proceed  from  the  holy  city  some 
hours  before  Da  Costa  was  given  up ;  leaving  Gor- 
don, however,  to  enjoy  the  rest  of  his  furlough  there  ; 
and  now  the  veteran  devoted  himself  to  assisting  and 
comforting  Alick,  whose  distress  was  pitiable.  After 
a  while,  Charley  was  permitted  to  approach,  and  on 
seeing  the  ghastly  object  before  him,  cried  out,  '  Oh, 
it  can't — it  can't  be  Mr.  Dockster!' 

At  his  voice,  the  sufferer  moved,  half  raised  his 
eyelids,  and  smiled.  ^  Oh,  you  blessed  boy!'  said 
Alick,  '  you  never  speak  but  to  do  good :'  and  Da 
Costa  smiled  again. 

Gradually  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  look  at  those 
around  him,  and  to  make  some  faint  and  fruitless 
efforts  at  speaking  ;  but  of  his  feelings  he  gave  no  in- 


judah's  lion.  399 

dication,  save  those  of  increased  affection  for  his  ten- 
der nurses;  and  a  marked  satisfaction  when  Alick 
told  him  how  they  had  been  traced,  and  made  Gordon 
take  his  hand.  At  one  time  he  asked  if  he  wished  to 
see  any  of  their  brethren,  to  which  no  reply  was  given  ; 
and  then  Alick  ventured  to  add,  ^  I  have  heard  of  Wil- 
helrn — he  is  safe,  and  in  London.' 

The  pleasure  that  beamed  from  Da  Costa's  coun- 
tenance gave  him  almost  the  aspect  of  former  days ; 
and  then  Alick  whispered,  in  the  lowest  tone,  '  I  could 
say  more — I  will  say  it,  dear  Da  Costa — Wilhelm  has 
been  led  to  see  the  Messiah  of  Israel  in  Him  who  was 
crucified,  and  he  is  very  happy — and  Esther  is  of  the 
same  mind.'  The  deepest  crimson  mantled  the  wan 
cheek  and  damp  brow  of  the  dying  man  ;  but  beyond 
that,  no  indication  was  given^ — his  feelings  were  un- 
fathomable, and  all  Alick  could  do  was  to  converse  in 
an  audible  whisper  with  Gordon  and  the  Ryans  on 
the  infinite  mercy  of  God  in  the  redemption  of  the 
world  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  but  Charley  talked 
incessantly  in  his  own  sweet,  touching  way  ;  and  his 
little  voice  had  always  charms  for  Da  Costa. 

It  was  on  the  second  day  of  their  watching  over 
him,  that  Alick  caught  the  first  articulate  words  he 
had  spoken  ;  they  were  '  The  Mount  of  Olives.' 

All  were  puzzled  to  ascertain  what  was  his  mean- 
ing :  he  seemed  desirous  to  convey  it,  but  could  only 
murmur  those  words,  and  '  die.'  At  last  Charley 
whispered,  '  He  wants  to  die  on  the  Mount  of  Olives ;' 
and  to  this  Da  Costa  distinctly  said,  '  Yes.'  Again 
and  again  was  he  asked  if  he  really  wished  to  be  car- 
ried there,  and  so  evident  was  his  desire  that  they  re- 


400 

solved  to  fulfil  it.  He  was  placed  on  a  litter,  and 
carefully  borne  across  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  and 
up  the  slope,  a  short  distance,  to  a  circle  of  Olive- 
trees,  supposed  to  mark  the  garden  of  Gethsemane. 
He  appeared  very  happy,  when  assured  that  the  an- 
cient olives  of  the  mountain  were  really  shading  him  ; 
hut  to  Alick's  fervent,  whispered  entreaty  for  some 
w^ord  to  indicate  the  state  of  his  soul,  he  gave  no  re- 
ply. It  was  a  bitter  grief  of  heart  to  the  affectionate 
youth,  and  he  wept  like  a  child  as  he  sat  on  the 
ground  beside  him.  The  expression  of  that  wasted, 
but  still  fine  countenance,  he  could  not  read.  Some- 
times he  thought  it  indicated  a  stubborn  resolve  not 
to  be  moved  by  any  thing,  at  others  he  considered 
the  stupor  of  approaching  death  to  have  benumbed 
his  faculties ;  but  then  the  eyes  would  unclose,  and 
so  much  life,  meaning,  and  vivid  intellect  shone  in 
their  dark  orbs,  that  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  the 
supposition,  and  a  hope  that  even  then  the  work  was 
being  carried  on  in  that  precious  soul  beamed  upon 
his  agitated  spirit.  There  were  moments  too  when 
he  read  in  that  mysterious  stillness  of  feature,  the 
calm  of  one  who  has  stayed  himself  on  the  Rock  of 
his  salvation.  But  all  was  surmise  ;  and  poor  Alick 
writhed  under  the  incertitude  of  his  thoughts. 

It  was  a  solemn  scene  I  Beneath  them  lay  the 
holy  city,  the  summit  of  Mount  Moriah,  the  inclosurc 
where  stood  the  temple  of  the  Lord  being  almost 
under  their  feet,  so  close  did  it  appear,  notwithstand- 
ing the  deep  ravine  that  forms  the  bed  of  the  Ke- 
dron ;  the  valley  of  the  graves  of  Israel,  the  burial- 
place  of  the  tribes  for  thousands  of  years,  and  to  this 


401 

day  the  most  coveted  spot  of  sepulture  to  the  Jew, 
wheresoever  he  may  he  scattered.  Above,  waved  the 
few  thin  leaves  of  those  patriarchal  olives,  coeval, 
probably,  with  the  personal  ministry  of  the  Lord  of 
glory  on  earth.  All  was  calm  and  still,  scarcely  a 
sound  broke  the  deep  silence  of  the  awe-struck  be- 
holders, who  gathered  round  the  dying  Israehte,  ab- 
sorbed in  secret  prayer  for  one  who,  perhaps,  was 
offering  no  acceptable  supplication  for  himself  Each 
had,  in  turn,  whispered  some  gentle  word  of  Chris- 
tian hope,  promise,  entreaty ;  but  though  no  repulse 
was  given,  neither  could  encouragement  be  traced. 
At  length  Gordon  spoke  in  a  low  voice  to  Charley, 
who  had  been  alternately  peeping  in  Da  Costa's  face 
and  hiding  his  own  in  his  mother's  bosom  ;  for  the 
child  was  frightened,  yet  any  suggestion  of  removing 
him  threw  him  into  such  an  agony  that  it  was  not 
persevered  in.  He  was  now  listening  to  Gordon,  and 
turning  with  him  over  the  leaves  of  the  Bible  until 
something  arrested  them.  Charley  then  slowly  and 
somewhat  fearfully  approached,  holding  the  book  in 
both  his  hands ;  and  stealing  one  timid  look  at  the 
corpse-like  face,  he  held  the  book  so  as  to  screen  him 
from  a  second  view,  lifted  up  his  broad  forehead  and 
began,  in  a  tone  so  audible,  enunciation  so  clear,  and 
emphasis  so  marked,  as  to  astonish  those  around  him, 
"  Let  God  arise,  let  his  enemies  be  scattered ;  let 
them  also  that  hate  him  flee  before  him."  He  pro- 
ceeded with  the  Psalm,  without  faltering;  but  so 
slowly  as  to  give  effect  to  every  word.  Da  Costa's 
eyes  were  immediately  unclosed ;  the  well-known 
lofty  sounds  seemed  to  revive  all  the  fire  of  his  cha- 

34* 


402 

racter — his  lips  moved,  evidently  accompanying  the 
earnest  little  reader.  At  length  he  arrived  at  the  18th 
verse,  "  Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  thou  hast  led 
captivity  captive  :  thou  hast  received  gifts  for  man ; 
yea,  for  the  rebeUious  also,  that  God  might  dwell 
among  them."  Here  his  voice  trembled,  and  he 
hesitated,  as  if  about  to  speak,  but  proceeded  vi^ith 
much  pathos — ^'  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  who  daily 
loadeth  us  with  benefits,  even  the  God  of  our  salva- 
tion. He  that  is  our  God  is  the  God  of  salvation," — 
here  he  dropped  the  book,  fell  on  the  neck  of  his 
dying  friend,  and  with  a  burst  of  tears  cried  out,  *  Oh, 
he  is!  he  is!  Our  God  is  the  God  of  salvation. 
He  loves  you,  oh,  he  does ;  He  loves  dear  Israel — 
He  stood  here  and  wept  over  Jerusalem.  BeHeve, 
believe,  oh  do  beheve  in  Jesus !'  Sobs  stopped  his 
voice,  and  Alick  would  have  raised  him,  but  Da 
Costa  had  thrown  his  arm  over  him,  and  held  him 
fast.  The  child's  soft  face  was  resting  on  his  shoulder, 
one  little  hand  raised  in  supplication;  and  by  an 
effort  he  suppressed  his  sobs,  and  said  very  earnestly, 
'  You  can't  think  what  a  loving  Saviour  he  is :  you 
don't  see  him;  but  when  they  stoned  Stephen  some- 
where hereabouts,  he  looked  up,  and  saw  Jesus  stand- 
ing at  the  right  hand  of  God.'  Da  Costa  suddenly 
raised  his  eyes,  with  a  look — a  gaze  towards  heaven, 
so  eager,  so  expecting,  that  Alick  was  electrified. 
Charley  went  on:  'You  can't  do  without  a  sacrifice  ; 
and  see,  the  naughty  Turks  have  got  the  temple, 
there,  and  shut  you  out,  and  you  can't  sacrifice  a 
lamb,  nor  a  bull;  but  here  the  Lord  stood  after  he 
had  sacrificed  himself^  and  ascended  up  on  high;  and 


403 

He  will  come  again,  He  will,  He  will,  the  King  of 
Israel — and  He  is  the  God  of  our  salvation.'  Da 
Costa's  eyes  remained  fixed,  but  one  more  gleam  of 
brightness  flashed  across  them;  he  extended  his  arms, 
and  ejaculating  the  word  ^Come!'  departed. 

'  Many  months  after  this  occurred,  a  large  party  of 
English  naval  officers,  with  several  wealthy  merchants 
and  travellers,  were  assembled  at  one  of  the  principal 
sea-ports  of  the  Mediterranean,  while  within  view  rode 
the  gallant  ship  that  had  conveyed  the  Cohens  out. 
It  was  a  royal  fete-day,  and  the  proud  standard  of 
England  streamed  not  only  from  the  mast-heads  of 
her  various  vessels,  but  also  from  a  rampart,  so  near 
the  foot  of  which  their  hotel  stood,  that  every  fresh 
gust  from  the  sea  caused  a  portion  of  the  broad  ban- 
ner to  sweep  before  the  open  window  of  that  spacious 
apartment.  It  was  no  riotous  assemblage  of  intem- 
perate men,  but  a  hospitable  farewell  entertainment 
given  by  some  of  the  most  respectable  inhabitants  to 
their  departing  friends.  The  last  glass  was  filled ; 
and  as  at  that  moment  the  bold  flag  was  driven  well- 
nigh  over  the  head  of  the  president,  he  turned  round, 
and  playfully  saluting  it,  gave  the  '  Lion  of  England.' 
Heartily,  cheerily,  was  the  sentiment  welcomed  ;  and 
one  among  the  company  rose,  his  youthful  cheek  glow- 
ing with  emotion,  and  his  figure  expanding  with  the 
conscious  importance  of  his  theme.  '  May  the  most 
insignificant,  and  perhaps  the  youngest  of  this  assem- 
blage, presume  to  rise  uncalled,  and  respond  to  such 
a  sentiment  ?  Yes  ;  for  I  represent  a  nation  whose 
symbol  is  identical  with  your  own,  whose  children  are 
intermingled  with  your  population,  one  with  you,  yet 


404  judah's  lion. 

ever  distinct,  and  to  be  more  distinct  and  more  distin- 
guished still,  as  I  confidently  believe,  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  England.  I  am  a  Jew ;  a  year  since 
I  first  vi^ent  on  board  yonder  ship,  devotedly  English, 
but  towards  my  own  people  indifferent,  or  worse. 
That  standard.  Gentlemen,  that  pictured  lion  now 
floating  over  the  wave,  was  the  means  of  making  me 
indeed  a  Jew.  Possessed  with  the  belief,  that  in- 
cluded in  your  escutcheon  was  the  Lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  I  gave  myself  to  searching  the  Scriptures 
for  information  respecting  Judah's  Lion ;  and  by  Di- 
vine mercy  I  found  him  indeed ;  found  him  in  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain.'  He  paused,  almost  overcome  ; 
but  a  burst  of  delighted  encouragement  from  his 
friendly  auditors,  induced  him  to  proceed.  '  Becom- 
ing a  Christian,  do  I  cease  to  be  a  Jew  ?  God  forbid ! 
I  turn  to  you,  the  inheritors  of  that  faith  which  my 
fathers  first  proclaimed  to  the  Gentiles,  and  I  tell  you 
that  the  noblest  cause  your  unconquered  lion  can 
espouse,  is  that  of  my  people,  God's  offending  outcast, 
but  still  beloved  Israel.  I  have  trod  these  Eastern 
shores  ;  I  have  wept  over  the  desolations  of  Jerusalem, 
I  have  visited  the  fallen  cities  of  Judah,  I  have  trod- 
den the  lofty  steeps  of  Lebanon ;  tasted  the  refreshing 
streams  of  Jordan,  sailed  across  the  lake  Gennesaret, 
and  sought  out  in  every  corner  of  the  land  the  few 
scattered  remnants  of  her  ancient  tribes  who  linger 
aniong  kindred  ruins.  I  have  explored  the  country, 
with  a  view  to  testing  its  present  capabilities  of  repay- 
ing such  labour  and  capital  as  might  be  bestowed  on 
it,  without  any  reference  to  the  promise  of  renewed 
fertility,  a  miraculous  gift  to  be  hereafter  conferred  by 


405 

the  God  of  Israel,  when  He  shall  Himself  arise  on  be- 
half of  his  pardoned  people.  I  speak  of  what  I  know, 
when  I  assert,  that  Judea,  having  enjoyed  her  sab- 
baths, is  even  now  prepared  to  yield  a  thousand-fold 
return  to  the  patient  cultivator.  I  speak  of  what  is 
certain,  when  I  say,  that  the  path  opens  before  us,  for 
restoring,  according  to  the  sure  word  of  prophecy,  the 
dispersed  of  Judah  to  their  inheritance  ;  and  I  appeal 
to  you,  to  bear  it  ever  in  mind,  that  each  successive 
event  of  these  marvellous  days,  is  tending  to  that  is- 
sue. I  ask  you  to  watch ;  to  seize  every  occasion  of 
facilitating  our  return  ;  not  for  our  sakes,  but  for  your 
own.  God's  purposes  towards  us  cannot  fail,  though 
the  whole  world  were  banded  together  against  us  ;  but 
I  love  England,  I  desire  to  see  her  noble  lion  supreme 
among  the  nations ;  and  to  insure  this,  I  would  see 
him  ever  closely  allied  to  the  Lion  of  Judah.  As 
Christian  men,  you  are  bound  to  love  the  beloved  of 
the  Lord's  soul,  whom  he  hath  indeed  given  for  a  time 
into  the  hands  of  her  enemies,  but  towards  whom  He 
purposes  most  glorious  things,  to  His  own  eternal 
praise.  We  gave  you  the  Bible,  there  is  not  in  that 
sacred  volume  a  hne  not  written  by  a  Jew  ; — search, 
then,  in  its  pages,  for  the  record  of  God's  everlasting 
love  to  us,  and  grasp  the  blessing  sealed  to  those  who 
bless  his  Israel.  •  One  portion  of  that  record  I  will  re- 
peat : — "  Behold,  I  will  gather  them  out  of  all  coun- 
tries whither  I  have  driven  them  in  mine  anger,  and 
in  my  fury,  and  in  great  wrath ;  and  I  will  bring  them 
again  into  this  place,  and  I  will  cause  them  to  dwell 
safely,  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be 
their  God  ;  and  I  will  give  them  one  heart  and  one 


406 

way,  that  they  may  fear  me  for  ever,  for  the  good  of 
them,  and  of  their  children  after  them :  and  I  will 
make  an  everlasting  covenant  with  them,  that  I  will 
not  turn  away  from  them  to  do  them  good  :  but  I  will 
put  my  fear  in  their  hearts,  that  they  shall  not  depart 
from  me.  Yea,  I  will  rejoice  over  them  to  do  them 
good,  and  I  will  plant  them  in  this  land  assuredly, 
with  my  whole  heart,  and  with  my  whole  soul.  For 
thus  saith  the  Lord,  Like  as  I  have  brought  all  this 
great  evil  upon  this  people,  so  will  I  bring  upon  them 
all  the  good  that  I  have  promised  them."  This  is 
our  charter ;  on  this  covenant  we  rely,  and  may  it  be 
England's  privilege,  to  labour  in  our  cause,  that  she 
may  rejoice  in  our  joy,  when  our  tribes  shall  assemble, 
and  our  cities  be  built,  and  the  land  of  Israel  rest  in 
imbroken  peace,  under  the  sure  shadow  of  Judah's  Al- 
mighty Lion ; — for  unto  Him  shall  the  Gentiles  seek, 
AND  His  rest  shall  be  glorious  !' 


THE   END. 


•■ 


